Last week, the City of Pittsburgh officially designated Valmont Street as a Neighborhood Slow Street! This means that non-residential car traffic is discouraged and that pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles can all share the road.
Chris Warren, who lives on the street, had long observed that no vehicles needed to go through Valmont to reach their destination. The street is one block long and runs parallel to Murray, Negley, and Wightman, so plenty of alternative routes are available.
This summer, when Chris and his wife (Julie Kachniasz) heard about the city’s new Slow Street program, they thought it was a great opportunity to give the children on their street more space to play. This need was especially urgent with Wightman Park under renovation and many other recreational sites closed for the pandemic.
Chris and Julie quickly gained the support of their neighbors on Valmont and nearby streets. The Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition also wrote a letter of support for the designation, which benefits Squirrel Hill residents by providing a safe, socially distant path for walking, running, and biking, either for leisure or to access businesses along Forbes and Murray.
While Valmont’s Slow Street designation is relatively new, it has already made an impact. Many of the eighteen school-age children on Valmont have been taking advantage of the space to ride their bicycles or scooters. While parental supervision is still necessary, Chris says that knowing his children can use the street safely is “a big weight off my shoulders.”
Apply for your own Slow Street!
If you think that a Neighborhood Slow Street designation would benefit you and your neighbors, check out the requirements on the Department of Mobility and Infrastructure (DOMI) website. If your street may be eligible, contact Marshall Hershberg from our Bike Pedestrian committee at hershberg13@gmail.com. The Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition is happy to support residents working on Slow Street applications!
And next time you’re walking, running, biking, or scooting near Valmont, be sure to check out Squirrel Hill’s first Neighborhood Slow Street!
Unfortunately, due to the severe weather forecast of potential damaging winds, large hail, and dangerous lightning, the August 22nd Squirrel Hill Night Market scheduled was canceled. The safety of our visitors, vendors, staff, and community is our top priority. We want to extend a huge thank you to Uncover Squirrel Hill and I Made It! Market for prioritizing everyone’s well-being.
The Uncover Squirrel Hill and I Made It! Market teams are working on rescheduling (hopefully for this coming Saturday!) and we will share the confirmed date as soon as it's locked in.
Volunteers for the Night Market Litter Patrol will be needed to assist with setup, litter pickup, changing trash bags, and teardown for the event that depends entirely on dedicated community volunteers! We will share how you can sign up to support the cleanup crew.
The Squirrel Hill Farmers Market runs every Sunday through mid-December at the Beacon-Barlett Parking Lot. The SHUC booth will be there on the fourth Sunday of each month, with date adjustments for August 30th and September (moved to October 18th).
Preserving, Improving, and Celebrating the Quality of Life in Squirrel Hill
For over fifty years, the Coalition has been an active and important link in the community. It has served as a sounding board for new ideas, as well as a “watchdog” in the areas of public safety, education, residential quality, the business district, and parks and open space. With its focus on the quality of life in the 14th Ward, SHUC continues to monitor activities and future developments in the community through a range of standing committees.
