Join us this Saturday, August 3, from 9-12 at the top of Welsh Way/Welsh Road in the western side of the Slopes to hack at the knotweed that is completely blocking the steps there. We’ll have water, gloves, and some tools, but please bring pruning shears, loppers, etc. if you have any.
Leading up to StepTrek in October, we’ll be asking for help cleaning off some of the steps along the routes. This is your chance for a StepTrek sneak peek, and to know that you helped make StepTrek a success. Contact jamin.bogi@southsideslopes.org for more info, or just meet us there this Saturday. Thanks!
Help pull some unsightly weeds and pick up litter around our gateway to the Slopes, South 18th Street. We’ll meet at the base of the steps and work our way up the street, time permitting. Just bring yourself and a friend or two–we’ll provide gloves, trash bags, and cold water. Email jamin.bogi@southsideslopes with any questions.
Here’s two pictures of a mini-clean up we did a few days ago. Before, this patch of Oakley Way was barely passable. After, it’s a safe, shady way to get around. Your work has an immediate, visible effect!
Help pull some unsightly weeds and pick up litter around our gateway to the Slopes, South 18th Street. We’ll meet at the base of the steps and work our way up the street, time permitting. Just bring yourself and a friend or two–we’ll provide gloves, trash bags, and cold water. Email jamin.bogi@southsideslopes with any questions.
Do you hate seeing so much litter and unsightly trash in your Slopes neighborhood?
We do too. We, the Outreach Committee of the South Side Slopes Neighborhood Association, have started a campaign we hope will make change in the Slopes. We’re calling on you, our neighbors, to join us in the fight to clean up the ‘hood. As we continue to battle the ever-present litter on our streets, we are trying to make sure all residents are aware of the City of Pittsburgh rules around trash storage and collection (see below for rules) outside the home.
Our third fundraiser for the South Side Park will take place at Acacia, South Side’s premier cocktail bar, on July 8th. Acacia has graciously offered their space and a generous percentage of their profits. All funds raised will go towards the signage of trails in the park and signs for the parks entrances to direct people into this great neighborhood amenity. Between Wigle Whiskey hosting us and Acacia last time, we have raised $670 for an entrance sign to the park near the Bandi Shaum Community Garden. Our estimated entrance sign cost is $1500 – 2000, so come and help out our park.
At 6pm we will lead a tour into some of the park trails and throw in some steps for good measure – consider it a mini-StepTrek. The tour will take about an hour. We will meet outside of Acacia.
At 7pm the official fundraiser will start and will continue until 9pm. We will have delicious cocktails, a punch made specially for the evening, a beer special, and possibly, just maybe some live music. Did we mention delicious cocktails?
Everyone is welcome to our annual summer picnic. The association will be grilling hot dogs, hamburgers, and veggie burgers. Please bring a side dish, dessert, or beverage. Hope to see you there!
The picnic starts at 6PM, and there is an option walking tour of South Side Park leaving at 5:30 from Quarry field.
Location: Saber Field, South Side Park (Entrance on 18th St)
In the South Side Park decades of neglect allowed invasive vines to cripple much of the ecology. Use of the park was almost exclusively by dirt bikes and partying campers, further eroding the landscape and forest and littering the park.
Throughout the past several years our volunteers and the Student Conservation Assocation (SCA) have worked constantly to improve the South Side Park for use and preservation. Hundreds of trees have had their trees disentangled from invasive vines, garlic mustard has been removed in droves, and japanese knotweed has been eradicated as much as we can. Many tons of trash have been removed. Through it all, the goal has been to allow for a healthy forest and for a pleasant and peaceful place to visit.
To improve the park more permanently though we really need people to use it. One of the long-term goals has been building a trail system that can be utilized by walkers, joggers, and hikers throughout the 65 acres of forest. One of the best things for the South Side Park will have to people walking the trails and using it in an eco-conscious manner.
The first step to this is getting all of the trails blazed with painted way-signs, so users can follow the trails easily. There are a lot of crisscrossing paths within the forest due to deer, mountain bikers, and dirt bikers, so it is incredibly confusing without the signage. To build upon the way-makers we need permanent wooden signs marking the junctions. We also need trail maps both printed in map-form and at the entrances. Lastly in the trail department we need to sign the entrances to invite people into the park as so few people know that it even exists, or what it contains.
Please help us continue to save our forest by encouraging its use, and using it yourself! Please join us for a fundraiser on June 3 at Acacia to help support these efforts. Click here for more information.
Join us on October 5th for an “Urban Hike” through one of Pittsburgh’s most unique neighborhoods, the South Side Slopes.
In its 13th year, some new things are in store for the Pittsburgh StepTrek which begins Saturday, Oct. 5 at 11am at South Side Park (Josephine & 21st Streets) on the South Side.
The Trek itself is self-guided. The course narrative in the program book points out the landmarks and gives a history of the stairs and buildings, counts the steps (approximately 2,700) and also provides instruction as to the route.
Our second fundraiser for the South Side Park will take place at Acacia on June 3rd, South Side’s premier cocktail bar. Acacia has graciously offered their space and a generous percentage of their profits. Any funds raised will go towards the signage of trails in the park and signs for the parks entrances to direct people into this great neighborhood amenity.
At 6pm we will lead a tour into some of the park trails and throw in some steps for good measure – consider it a mini-StepTrek. The tour will take about an hour. We will meet outside of Acacia.
At 7pm the official fundraiser will start and will continue until 9pm. We will have delicious cocktails (and maybe a themed South Side Slopes concoction), the Steer and Wheel food truck, and maybe some live music. Did we mention delicious cocktails?
Our second fundraiser for the South Side Park will take place at Acacia on June 3rd, South Side’s premier cocktail bar. Acacia has graciously offered their space and a generous percentage of their profits. All funds raised will go towards the signage of trails in the park and signs for the parks entrances to direct people into this great neighborhood amenity.
At 6pm we will lead a tour into some of the park trails and throw in some steps for good measure – consider it a mini-StepTrek. The tour will take about an hour. We will meet outside of Acacia.
At 7pm the official fundraiser will start and will continue until 9pm. We will have delicious cocktails (and maybe a themed South Side Slopes concoction), the Steer and Wheel food truck, and maybe some live music. Did we mention delicious cocktails?
