Blog
On March 30, the 412 Youth Zone celebrated National Take a Walk in the Park Day with a small but determined group of three youth and four staff who made the half-mile walk to Point State Park. While participation took some encouragement, many youth were initially hesitant to step away from their usual routines, staff were able to spark interest, and in the end, those who joined embraced the opportunity to get outside and try something new.
It was a clear, temperate spring day. Those are valuable in Pittsburgh, with all the gray and rain here. The young people’s attitudes seemed to lift as we walked down third, along Stanwix, and wound our way through construction, where the green clearings and pathways of the park opened.
As soon as we passed under the portal bridge into the park, one of the staff joked that we were eyeing the benches, and we couldn’t sit down yet. We followed the triangular path along the water to the confluence where the Mon, Ohio, and Allegheny Rivers meet. An arrow-shaped plaque in the concrete points to the mingling of the bodies of water. One youth noted he could see where the rivers, flowing in different directions, collided at a visible crease of dark water.
We stayed here for the longest time, allowing youth to wander down the trail, balance on the edge of the dry Point Park fountain, or sit down. We took some photos along the water, and youth were able to put their phones down, even if momentarily, to engage with the staff and take in the sights.
One thing that was clear was this walk allowed us to move at a different pace. Youth were able to practice patience and calm. It allowed us all to slow down. Everyone, younger and older, can relate to resisting the outdoors because we think we have more pressing things to do inside. In 2016, National Geographic published an issue on the healing power of nature. The article “This Your Brain on Nature” detailed psychologist David Strayer’s research, which linked time spent in nature to stronger problem-solving skills.
After visiting Point State Park, we grabbed milkshakes at The Milkshake Factory near Market Square. Even though the prospect of dessert may have helped some of the youth make the decision to join, each of us had a much-needed break from the fast pace of downtown. I hope it was a positive moment to take into the rest of the day.
It was a clear, temperate spring day. Those are valuable in Pittsburgh, with all the gray and rain here. The young people’s attitudes seemed to lift as we walked down third, along Stanwix, and wound our way through construction, where the green clearings and pathways of the park opened.
As soon as we passed under the portal bridge into the park, one of the staff joked that we were eyeing the benches, and we couldn’t sit down yet. We followed the triangular path along the water to the confluence where the Mon, Ohio, and Allegheny Rivers meet. An arrow-shaped plaque in the concrete points to the mingling of the bodies of water. One youth noted he could see where the rivers, flowing in different directions, collided at a visible crease of dark water.
We stayed here for the longest time, allowing youth to wander down the trail, balance on the edge of the dry Point Park fountain, or sit down. We took some photos along the water, and youth were able to put their phones down, even if momentarily, to engage with the staff and take in the sights.
One thing that was clear was this walk allowed us to move at a different pace. Youth were able to practice patience and calm. It allowed us all to slow down. Everyone, younger and older, can relate to resisting the outdoors because we think we have more pressing things to do inside. In 2016, National Geographic published an issue on the healing power of nature. The article “This Your Brain on Nature” detailed psychologist David Strayer’s research, which linked time spent in nature to stronger problem-solving skills.
After visiting Point State Park, we grabbed milkshakes at The Milkshake Factory near Market Square. Even though the prospect of dessert may have helped some of the youth make the decision to join, each of us had a much-needed break from the fast pace of downtown. I hope it was a positive moment to take into the rest of the day.