Serenity Glass Park – Port Allegany, Pennsylvania
While riding along Route 6 in Pennsylvania, I passed through the town of Port Allegany. On the corner of Mill and Main, in the middle of town sat a small but eye-catching park featuring colorful glass block structures. I couldn’t resist stopping for a look. The park is called Serenity Glass Park.
Though the park was small, and at the time of my visit was still under construction, you immediately got the sense that its very existence was big on meaning. What was being constructed was being done so lovingly.
Dedicated to the Employees of PC Glass Block
As I walked around the roadside park looking at the structures, I saw the following block and everything became clear:
The town of Port Allegany’s economy had apparently been largely dependent on glass manufacturing.
In 2016, Pittsburgh Corning, a manufacturer of glass blocks and long-time local employer, shuttered its doors.
Celebrating Small Town America
When passing through small towns like Port Allegheny, there is often a sense of community and a unique flavor that I don’t experience where I live, on my island of nearly 8 million people.
Here on Long Island, we seem to go out of our way to avoid contact with each other rather than find ways to come together and celebrate what binds us. We are faceless, nameless, anonymous ants scurrying about. Our lives are filled something bought from a franchise.
Perhaps this type of existence I live is why I love traveling through small town America. It’s like an expedition to find normalcy.
Sometimes I just want to hug these little towns and keep them close so that they live forever.
Visit Serenity Glass Park
You’ll find the lovely little park along Route 6 in the town of Port Allegany, Pennsylvania.
Location: 4 N Main St, Port Allegany, PA 16743
Google Maps
Wow. That looks so interesting. I love it.
Beautiful! Surprises around every corner..
So pretty. I feel the same way about small towns. Love their sense of community. On the flip-side, I hear people gripe in them about no privacy and everyone being nosy, especially about anything deviant. I guess there’re very few places with the perfect balance. Thanks for putting this place on my radar — you’re a terrific scout!
What a wonderful little place – and I certainly agree about small towns! I’ve often said every town in Iowa (and there are hundreds of small ones!) has something to recommend it, even if it’s just an interesting bygone history… historical marker… cool old building… or visitor attraction. Great little find here! Those vertical panels are amazing!
What a cool find! I love the uniqueness of small towns. In our travels over the last couple of years we have found the suburbs, with their chain businesses, have melded into Anywhere, USA. I hope people like us can keep the small towns alive.
I have gone thru Port Allegheny for years on way home to Bradford and always passed PC and was surprised to see it gone, but what a unique way to keep it alive, so beautiful and serene and a great tribute. Worth the time to stop!