DateOct. 1, 2008
For ReleaseUpon Receipt
ContactJoe Balaban
Telephone412-445-4024
ELM STREET FUNDED PARK & SCULPTURE FEATURED IN PITTSBURGH STEPTREK
2008 Event Celebrates City Anniversary as a Pittsburgh 250 + Fit Partner
PITTSBURGH —Two parks – one a memorial to war veterans and the other featuring a signature representation of the South Side Slopes neighborhood in the fabricated canvas of a COR-TEN steel plate – are featured in the 8th Annual Pittsburgh StepTrek, which takes walkers over the largest concentration of public steps in the city from noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 5.
It’s a year of anniversaries, as StepTrek celebrates the city’s originsas a Pittsburgh 250 + Fit partner and 10 years since the founding of the South Side Slopes Neighborhood Association, which hosts the event. Presented by sponsor Michael Baker Corporation, the family-friendly tour of the South Side Slopes combines photography, historic narrative, sweeping views, several realtor open houses and a sense of a neighborhood etched with steps. Each pre-registered trekker receives a map, a course narrative, commemorative tee shirt and free raffle ticket.
Both parks were results of Elm Street grants, a state-funded initiative to strengthen communities that border a Main Street District. Extensive improvements to the All Wars Memorial on Pius Street, including landscaping, fencing, sidewalks and new flagstone, were completed in 2007.
Recently, a fabricated steel plate, created by board member and architect Peter Kreuthmeier, was installed at the Brosville-MonasteryWelcomeGarden. The scrim, based on a cross section of a Slopes neighborhood map, has digitally fabricated openings, which weremade in the plate to represent neighborhood features such as buildings, parks, and steps.The Gold Route takes trekkers past both parks.
HonoraryChairperson for StepTrek 2008 is Pittsburgh City Councilman Bruce Kraus. Long before he was a candidate for office, Bruce distinguished himself as a volunteer dedicated to quality of life issues throughout the South Side and hilltop communities.
As always, the StepTrek is what the trekker makes it. Each year several people choose to walk the Trek for its fitness aspect. The benefits of a stirring walk through the Slopes have earned this event the heart-healthy rating of the American Heart Association.
The last few years the StepTrek has been fortunate in featuring the work of artists who have included city steps in their paintings. This year, artist Johno Prascak created “Sunrise on the Slopes” for the commemorative tee shirts. The painting’s vibrant textures reflect the use of local sediment in its creation.
There are three courses from which to choose. The Church Tour of the Slopes, is the shortest of the routes, and takes participants to three hillside churches and offers views of many others. A number of realtor open houses throughout the Slopes provide insight as to what life and amenities are like where many homes come with a view.
There will be rest and water stops along the way. The Trek itself is self-guided. The course narrative points out the landmarks and gives a history of the stairs and buildings, counts the steps and also provides instruction as to the route. Arrows along the course will provide direction as well.
Additional sponsors include Rudberg Law Offices, UPMC South Side, Copies at Carson, Loysen + Kreuthmeier Architects, Silk & Stewart Development Group, The Healey Company, Maiello, Brungo & Maiello, LLP, United American Savings Bank and South Side Local Development Co. Media sponsor is the South Pittsburgh Reporter.
Registration opens at 11 a.m.at 21st and Josephine streets on the South Side. Tents in the staging area feature historic South Side pictures that have been in the collection of the HeinzHistoryCenter, Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation and the Carnegie Library. Registration is $15 per person. Children under 12 accompanied by an adult are admitted free. For more information, please visit or call 412-488-0486.
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