Harrisburg. Photo by Michael Yatsko
The results of a recent survey show that community members are ready and excited for a downtown Harrisburg renaissance, officials say.
The Pennsylvania Downtown Center, in partnership with the Capital Region Economic Development Corporation (CREDC), announced the results of a survey that garnered thousands of responses and showed support for revitalizing downtown.
“What came back was both encouraging and clear-eyed: strong pride in the city’s architecture, riverfront and cultural assets, alongside real frustrations around parking, everyday retail, safety and business climate,” according to the Revitalize Downtown Harrisburg website.
Building on the interest shown by the survey response, CREDC and the Pennsylvania Downtown Center will host a series of workshops later this month to share further ideas for downtown.
According to survey responses from over 4,000 people, five strong themes emerged, which will be explored in the workshops.
One of the top findings of the survey was that people are interested in making downtown a place for everyday life, with a grocery store, pharmacy, and places to meet basic needs.
Other themes included overcoming the barrier of parking downtown, improving perceptions of safety and cleanliness, supporting business development, and creating energy through more housing, events and activities.
About half of the respondents were city residents, 45% worked downtown and 43% said they support downtown restaurants on a weekly or monthly basis. Additionally, 20% said they wanted to be involved in the downtown revitalization project.
Upcoming June workshops will give people the chance to have their voices heard again. Topics will include quality of life, public spaces and economic vitality.
“These workshops are essential to gaining valuable input from across a broad spectrum of our community, including those who live, work and visit downtown Harrisburg,” said Ryan Unger, president and CEO of the Harrisburg Regional Chamber and CREDC. “With the help of our partners and with the passionate ideas of community members and key stakeholders, we can truly breathe new life into downtown Harrisburg.”
The workshop series will take place on the following dates:
Quality of Life Workshops:
The focus of these sessions will be on how Harrisburg can be a more desirable place to live for everyone – from young professionals to families to retirees.
- June 18 – 1 to 3 p.m., Harrisburg High School—John Harris Campus, 2451 Market St.
- June 18 – 6 to 8 p.m., Harrisburg High School—John Harris Campus, 2451 Market St.
Public Spaces Workshops:
The focus of these sessions will be on creating more vibrant and welcoming gathering spaces downtown for people of all ages and abilities.
- June 23 – 1 to 3 p.m., Camp Curtin Academy, 2900 N. 6th St.
- June 23 – 6 to 8 p.m., Camp Curtin Academy, 2900 N. 6th St.
Economic Vitality Workshops:
The focus of these sessions will be on how Harrisburg can be a leading economic engine, supporting thriving businesses both today and into the future.
- June 25 – 1 to 3 p.m., Harrisburg High School—SciTech Campus, 215 Market St.
- June 25 – 6 to 8 p.m., Harrisburg High School—SciTech Campus, 215 Market St.
Workshops are free and open to all.
For more information, visit the “Revitalize Downtown Harrisburg” website.
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