Construction of Joseph F. Moore Park began in the early fall of 1939, after many years of planning. The new park was part of a city-wide drive to build recreation centers throughout the Pittsburgh area. The photo above shows the entrance to the park, adjacent to Pioneer Avenue. The driveway has been laid and the new tennis courts are in place. Grading is being done in the area to the right, where the playground will be located. Construction of the bath house and swimming pool will soon begin.

By October 31, 1939 work is now moving at a fast pace. The bath house frame is being erected and the outline of the swimming pool is taking shape. The playground is in place in the background and the small upper baseball field has been leveled and looks ready for its coating of top soil.

By January 9, 1940 work had progressed on the pool to the point where the wall forms were being put in place for pouring cement in the spring. The filtration piping has been installed and will soon be buried from view. The rocky hillside provided a solid foundation for the pool, but provided a challenge for the steam shovel and bulldozer operators.

By the end of spring construction is moving at a fast pace. This photo, taken on June 3, shows that the bath house has taken shape, with a small third level still to be added, and work on the pool is progressing. Workers are busy installing the steel reinforcing bars for the wall supporting the steps. In the upper left you can see the old West Liberty School, built in 1898, standing atop Pioneer Avenue.

By July 3 the outline of the bath house is complete and the windows are being installed. The pool is nearing completion. Workers are busy laying the cement bottom, here working on the slope leading to the deep end, which dipped to 16 feet.

By August 2 work on the park itself is almost complete. The baseball fields beyond the building and the tennis courts to the left are ready for use. Soon the playground on the right will have equipment installed. The bath house and pool are almost complete. By the summer of 1941, Moore Park will have become the place to be in Brookline. The park will be host to many community gatherings and the pool will become one of the cool spots for residents looking to beat the heat. The olympic-sized pool, and the park itself, has remained one of the community's #1 attractions for over 60 years.

For many years (into the 1990s), the third floor of the bath house, or recreation building, was the full-time home of the park custodian. For two decades, Independance Day fireworks were held on the lower field, with the fading embers descending upon a packed crowd lining the steps. From 1957 until 1971, the bath house was the home of "Charlie's Angels", the nationally recognized Boxing Club run by long-time director Chuck Senft. These are memories that many folks in the community remember fondly, and they make up a large part of Moore Park's storied past.

One thing, however, that only the old-timers might recall, is that Art Rooney and his Pittsburgh Steelers once used the bath house as a place for team meetings and workouts. Back in the 1940s it was a common site to see the Chief and his team milling about the building working on game plans and reviewing game films. It's just another of the fun facts that make up 60 years of Moore Park history.

* Photos provided by Mike Radley. Top photo sent in by Mike Brendel *