Nine Mile Run, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania: A Case Study

Nine Mile Run is a historic stream valley in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, identified by Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. as an ideal site for a city park in 1910. Between 1920 and 1972 twenty stories of steel mill slag were dumped on the site by the steel industry. In 1996 the property was targeted for a new community and an extension of a major city park by the City of Pittsburgh. The Nine Mile Run site became a case study for the researchers at the STUDIO, who have worked by now with the Homewood Montessori School, Dickson Intermediate School and John Minadeo School.

The students' homework and activities are documented at http://slaggarden.cfa.cmu.edu

The Nine Mile Run education program has emphasized history, community access and the environment. It explores soil, flora, habitat and water quality. These elements provide an excellent context for an inquiry-based project. The goal of the educational program is to provide opportunities for a younger audience to learn about the issues and opportunities of brownfields reclamation. This project demonstrates that creative inquiry can be translated and developed for a younger audience, classroom teachers and families. Young people are an important but often missing voice when communities discuss issues that affect them. They have an intellectual flexibility which can encourage communities to consider alternatives. Our task is not only to educate but also to guide students in their role as life long learners and involved citizens.