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Philly’s 100 steps near Manayunk have been through the wringer this week. The wall alongside the steps, made from glistening Wissahickon stone, were completely painted over in a stark, monotone gray.
The historic outdoor granite staircase (which actually has a little over 100 steps) leads into the Wissahickon Creek trail. The gray paint sparked outrage from locals. It also created a mystery to solve who was behind the new look.
Soon after the steps were painted, an anonymous neighbor posted a sign on them complaining boldly in all caps about the new development.
“WHO TF PAINTED OVER THIS ENTIRE STONE WALL,” the person wrote. “WHAT TF WERE YOU THINKING.”
Yipes! They continued on comparing the new look to a “boring corporate-funded wall in the city,” adding that this was a poor way to cover up whatever small graffiti was already there.
“YOU MADE A DECISION FOR EVERYONE THAT NOW NO ONE GETS TO ENJOY THIS SPOT IN THE SAME WAY,” they wrote.
The 100 Steps, originally built in 1901, are no stranger to graffiti. The city restored the stairs in the early 2000s after a series of complaints from neighbors about deterioration, vandalism and trash, per Philly Voice.
Over the years, the 100 Steps have become a popular spot for hikers and runners, looking for a scenic stroll. The anonymous writer got poetic, waxing nostalgic on the wall’s beauty and the unfortunate blow to the historic and beloved landmark — again in all caps.
“FOR MANY DECADES I, LIKE COUNTLESS OTHERS, HAVE WALKED THIS PARK. I RECALL FEELING WONDER AS A CHILD, WALKING HERE WITH MY PARENTS SEEING THE FLOWING WATER & SPARKLING STONES. AN OASIS OF NATURE.”
The note was subsequently posted on Reddit on Wednesday, where locals weighed in.
“Painting masonry is not recommended [as] it traps moisture which can result in the masonry spalling, fracturing and pulverizing,” one poster said. They warned that attempts to wash the new coat off could go awry if not handled properly.
“This is a case of the caps lock being entirely justified,” someone else wrote.
People questioned if the paint was a part of the official attempts to clean up and beautify Philadelphia in preparation for FIFA World Cup visitors and America 250 celebrations, or if this was done by a lone individual gone rogue.
The anonymous writer continued on asking, “NOW, SOME DAY, WHEN I WALK HERE WITH MY CHILDREN, SHALL I SHOW THEM THIS GRAY WALL? WILL THEY STARE IN WONDER AT YOUR PAINT JOB? WILL THEY THANK YOU FOR DROWNING OUT A FEW REMOVABLE DOODLES?”
Luckily, internet sleuths were also on the case. A concerned resident reached out to Councilmember Curtis Jones Jr.’s office and posted their correspondence online this morning — pointing to Philly’s Community Life Improvement Program as the culprit.
Thomas Conway, executive director of CLIP confirmed with BP this afternoon that the program was indeed responsible.
“Yes, unfortunately a CLIP employee did paint the wall since his power washer hose could not reach the wall,” he said. Conway noted that this was “not the correct thing to do” and the employee “should have just waited and added on additional hoses so he could reach it.”
Fortunately, CLIP has already taken action to rectify the situation.
“Today, the majority of it has been cleaned off, and CLIP’s Rasheid Reid will return tomorrow to finish the job,” Conway said, adding that “neighbors are happy again,” and the incident “should have never happened in the first place.”
Whoever left the note can officially rest easy. Their children will be able to enjoy the sparkling Wissahickon schist. An “oasis of nature” is back!
Read the note in full note below:
WHO TF PAINTED OVER THIS ENTIRE STONE WALL?
WHAT TF WERE YOU THINKING?
WOULD YOU ALSO THROW THE BABY OUT WITH THE BATHWATER?
IF SOMEONE CARVES THEIR NAME INTO THE BARK,
WOULD YOU ALSO THEN CHOP DOWN THE WHOLE TREE?
THIS WALL IS HISTORIC & BEAUTIFUL. WELL OVER A CENTURY OLD.
MADE WITH LOCAL STONE FOUND NOWHERE ELSE ON EARTH.
STONES THAT GLIMMER LIKE SILVER.
THE PRODUCT OF MILLIONS OF YEARS OF UNIQUE WISSAHICKON GEOLOGY.
AND IN 1 NIGHT YOU DECIDED TO SMOTHER IT WITH FLAT GRAY PAINT.
LIKE ANY OTHER BORING CORPORATE-FUNDED WALL IN THE CITY.
WITHOUT CONSULTING ANYONE, YOU MADE A DECISION FOR EVERYONE
THAT NOW NO ONE GETS TO ENJOY THIS SPOT IN THE SAME WAY.
AND FOR WHAT? BECAUSE OF A LITTLE GRAFFITI IN A FEW SPOTS
THAT COULD’VE JUST BEEN POWERWASHED OR TREATED? COME ON.
FOR MANY DECADES I, LIKE COUNTLESS OTHERS, HAVE WALKED THIS PARK.
I RECALL FEELING WONDER AS A CHILD, WALKING HERE WITH MY PARENTS
SEEING THE FLOWING WATER & SPARKLING STONES. AN OASIS OF NATURE.
THE RAREST OF PLACES IN A CITY AS HUGE AS PHILLY.
AND NOW, SOME DAY, WHEN I WALK HERE WITH MY CHILDREN,
SHALL I SHOW THEM THIS GRAY WALL?
WILL THEY STARE IN WONDER AT YOUR PAINT JOB?
WILL THEY THANK YOU FOR DROWNING OUT A FEW REMOVABLE DOODLES?
OR WILL THEY BE DEPRIVED OF YET 1 MORE NATURAL SIGHT
FOR THE SAKE OF SOME MISGUIDED ATTEMPT AT SANITIZING THE WORLD?
IF YOU HAVE ANY RESPECT FOR THIS PARK & THIS COMMUNITY,
WE URGE YOU TO RETURN & POWERWASH THIS ENTIRE WALL CLEAN,
OR HELP HIRE PROFESSIONALS TO DO SO.
I’D WRITE MORE, BUT AS YOU CAN SEE, I’VE RUN OUT OF ROOM.
GO BIRDS, F*** THE PPA.
