By Sean P. Ray | Managing Editor

When one thinks of landmarks, they likely think of structures that have been around for a long time, burning themselves into the memory of the community they inhabit and serving as an indelible part of that neighborhood for decades.

In the case of our Northside Landmarks Photo Contest, however, it is a new structure which won the adoration of our readers. In fact, it is a brand new one.

Joe Serkoch of Brighton Heights won the contest with his spectacular aerial photograph of the newly erected Davis Avenue Pedestrian Bridge, which was completed in June. In fact, if you check out page 9 of this very issue, you’ll find our photographs from the bridge’s ribbon cutting ceremony, which took place on June 20, less than a week before the release of this edition.

Longtime readers of The Northside Chronicle know that we have been following the story of the Davis Avenue Bridge like a hawk. The original vehicular crossing was torn down in 2009, severing a direct connection between Brighton Heights and Riverview Park.

Without the bridge, Brighton Heights residents had to take roundabout routes in order to reach the park, despite the fact it was effectively right next door to them. A valley through which Woods Run Avenue rides served as an obstacle which only a bridge could conquer.

Getting a new bridge has been the work of several years. The Chronicle reported back in 2022 that construction was originally estimated to begin around spring of 2023. However, ground was not broken until April 11 of 2024, at which time it was estimated the bridge would be completed in fall of 2024.

Well, it may have taken several years and several delays, but the bridge is finally open now and residents are ecstatic. During the ribbon cutting ceremony, several pedestrians and cyclists crossed the bridge every few minutes, showing just how much the structure is already being used.

Ed Gergerich, a Brighton Heights resident, told The Chronicle that he appreciates that fact the crossing is for pedestrians and cyclists only, as it keeps Davis Avenue as a “quiet, residential street” while still allowing for easy access to the park.

With the opening of the bridge being so hotly anticipated, it’s no wonder why Joe’s photograph won. Heck, even we love photos of the bridge, given how our last issue featured a whole gallery of them.

That is not to say he had a runaway victory, however. Joe won with 40.9% of the vote, which was followed closely by Carla Cardello’s photo of Lake Elizabeth, which took home 31.8% of the vote, and Tim Robbibaro’s picture of the moon behind the Allegheny Observatory, which claimed 27.3% of the vote. You can see those photos below:

Photo by Tim Robbibaro

Now, onto our next photo contest. Sports are admittedly a topic we wish we were able to cover more here at The Chronicle, so we’ve decided to make that our central topic. Our next theme is Northside Athletics!

We want any photos you have of sports on the Northside, whether they’re professional like the Pittsburgh Pirates and Steelers, or youth events like Old Allegheny Soccer at Riverview Field or Team Pittsburgh Dek Hockey in Brighton Heights.

Entry deadline is Sept. 17. The contest is open to Northside residents or subscribers to The Chronicle only. Entries can be sent to editor@thenorthsidechronicle.com or to our Instagram account, @nschronicle. One entry per person, and entrants should include their name, Northside neighborhood and an optional title of the photo. AI-generated images are NOT accepted.

So channel your inner sports reporter and send us your best athletic photos today!

Photo by Carla Cardello