Illustration by Rich Hauck.
About 20 years ago, I first laid eyes on Harrisburg, driving from Washington, D.C., over the South Bridge and into the city.
Taking in the long strip of green of Riverfront Park, my first impression was, in a word, “Wow.”
“D.C. would kill for this riverfront,” I told a friend at the time.
Washington, of course, was built along its own magnificent river (actually, two), but access long has been difficult, cut off by roads, development and bridge ramps. Contrast that with Harrisburg, where the magnificent Susquehanna is framed by over four miles of nearly uninterrupted parkland.
So, after I moved here, I became a heavy user of Harrisburg’s parks.
On any given day, you might find me running along the river, taking in a ballgame or just out for a stroll. Count me in for every waterfront festival and outdoor concert.
Seriously, we’re so lucky. Harrisburg is a small, densely built city but has a bounty of lovely green spaces, thanks to the visionaries who brought us the City Beautiful movement, the Capital Area Greenbelt, Peace Park and others.
So, I was delighted to see a survey, “Shape the Future of Harrisburg Parks,” conducted recently by the city’s Parks & Rec Department. Residents were asked to vote for their favorite park and then list the types of improvements they’d like to see, therefore helping the department “prioritize their work.”
Will anything firm come from the survey? I don’t know, but I eagerly shared my thoughts on Harrisburg’s parks, which I’ll also do here.
The survey takes a broad definition of “park,” listing 26 different recreational spaces, including playgrounds, a basketball court and a pool. I can’t address them all, so I’ll stick to a few that I know best.
I’ll start with the park that drew me to Harrisburg, today located just two blocks from my house: Riverfront Park.
There’s so much good about Riverfront Park that I’m almost reluctant to be critical. The city, though, specifically asked about “improvements,” so here it goes.
At times, Riverfront Park can appear unkempt. Not always, mind you. Mowing is done regularly, but the park does have a continual problem with litter, graffiti and weeds.
For instance, on recent walks, I’ve seen several large bags of garbage tossed onto the hillside, and the area around the Taylor Bridge has looked especially trashy. In the summertime, giant knotweed takes over large parts of the slope, and the river steps become marred with unsightly weeds.
Up above the walk, the grounds are generally kept in good shape, with the clear exception of the area outside the Civic Club, which is a field of hard, dusty dirt when it’s dry, a muddy mess when it’s wet and deeply pitted with tire tracks all the time.
The good news is that these problems are easily fixed.
With more persistent upkeep, the trash and weeds could be eradicated, and the city should ensure that private vehicles do not park in the park. On the upside, I recently was glad to see the many layers of graffiti painted over on the concrete abutment to Kunkel Plaza. Keeping that wall graffiti-free will require vigilance—at least once-a-month checks—as it seems to be an irresistible target for spray painters.
The terrible physical condition of the river steps is a much bigger—and far more expensive—problem. In places, the steps are so neglected and decayed that they will have to be rebuilt. The city should begin planning now for this, as it likely will take years to finance and finish.
Speaking of long-term plans—City Island sure could use one. Back in the 1980s, the city redesigned the circular park with a sort of campy western theme, which has not aged well. A new plan is needed, one focused on bringing more people to this underused gem.
There’s some low-hanging fruit—how about reopening the arcade, which has been shuttered for years? And whatever happened to rebuilding the batting cages? Meanwhile, both the barn and the pavilion are large, dormant buildings that could be repurposed for—a brewery, a restaurant, art space, etc. The city could and should offer incentives to make this happen. Also, Harrisburg needs a dog park after losing its only one a few years back. What about the old paddock area, a grassy expanse near the carousel?
I also urge the city to ban vehicles from the loop. On nice days, cars, trucks and SUVs—many of the drivers just out cruising—crowd the narrow path alongside children running, babies in strollers, joggers, bicyclists, skateboarders, walkers, wheelchair users, dogs, etc. This is clearly unsafe, a disaster waiting to happen. Vehicles should be left in the vast parking area, just a short stroll away, with the island reserved for people, fun and recreation.
Up on Allison Hill, Reservoir Park doesn’t need a master plan—it already has one. In June 2023, the first phase, the Chutes & Ladders Playground, opened to great acclaim. However, that didn’t solve the 87-acre park’s No. 1 issue—underutilization. The 2017 master plan contains many other ideas, most unimplemented, that offers a wealth of possibilities to improve the park and increase usage.
There are many other parks and many other problems. Can anything be done about the carpet of goose poop in Italian Lake Park? Will the Capital Area Greenbelt ever be able to reconnect its path in south Harrisburg? If you have ideas, the city is waiting to hear from you.
Back in 2018, National Geographic named Harrisburg one of America’s “top 10” greenest cities. The city’s parks take much of the credit for this honor. They are an amazing asset, one that attracted me here and, without doubt, one that will continue drawing people to Harrisburg. Kudos to the parks department for wanting to make them even better.
Lawrance Binda is publisher and editor of TheBurg.
You can share your thoughts online here or in person on March 1 at the city’s Ice & Fire Festival, where the Parks & Recreation Department is slated to have a booth.
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