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western portion of Highland Park. The whole valley, from its mouth to Wellesley Avenue and west to the top of the bank, should be controlled. A parkway thoroughfare from East Liberty down to the river should follow this valley.*

16 Bluff Street Hillside. -- The precipitous bank, between Bluff Street at the top and Second Avenue and the Baltimore & Ohio tracks at the bottom, is a topographical feature of much interest and beauty in itself and having, further, a peculiar value as a typical and striking example of the natural physical characteristics of the Pittsburgh District. Commercially, it has little value, unless perhaps as a site for signs, and such use should above all others be guarded against. The whole bank should be owned or controlled by the City to prevent its defacement and to preserve a natural element of civic interest and beauty.

17. Mt. Washington Hillside. -- Another feature of the same sort, only much larger, more conspicuous and therefore more important, is the precipitous hillside south of the Monongahela River from the West End to the Castle Shannon incline. Most of this slope is owned by the Railroad, and it may be that an agreement can be made with them whereby the City need not buy the land in order to stop effectually all defacement. But, whatever might be the best plan for control, there is no doubt that the area in question should be preserved intact for all time as a monumental example of the Pittsburgh landscape.

* Part II, Section 25, page 67.

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Last modified on 22-Dec 1999
Design format: copyright 1997-1999 Bruce S. Cridlebaugh
Original document: Frederick Law Olmsted, 1910