Tag Archives: Mayor Eric Papenfuse

The Week that Was: News and features around Harrisburg

September 18, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Conley

Jordan Dandy stands on the corner Front and Forster Streets with the message “You’re so important.”

It’s Harrisburg Takeout Month! Order in from your favorite restaurant and then catch up on the news you may have missed from this past week, listed and linked below.

“Bike to Work Week” starts on Monday in Harrisburg, and the city is setting up pop-up bike lanes to encourage bicycling. The initiative is part of the city’s “Vision Zero” plan to decrease pedestrian and cyclist fatalities, our online story reports.

Capital region arts organizations will get a share of grant money distributed statewide, it was announced last week. Eight Dauphin County organizations will receive funding, including the Susquehanna Art Museum and the Harrisburg Symphony Association, our online story reports.

CONTACT Helpline is celebrating 50 years of assisting people in need of emotional support and connections to human services. Check out the story of the organization that has provided a listening ear to so many.

COVID-19 cases remained stable in Pennsylvania over the past week, our online story reports. They did, however, spike in counties with large college campuses.

Essential workers in Harrisburg may see some appreciation coming their way. The city proposed a $2,500 pay bonus for those who worked every day without the option to telecommute, our reporting found.

Gamut Theatre is safely bringing back live performances, beginning with “Love Hurts!” Our online story gives you a sneak peek into the plot of this hilarious show.

Harrisburg City Council proposed amendments to a bill that would establish a police advisory board. Changes came following public demands that the board have more power, our online story reports.

Harrisburg restaurants have found ways to adapt in the ever-changing times of COVID-19. Our magazine story explains how some local favorites have changed and survived.

Harrisburg University’s e-sports team is the subject of a new locally produced documentary. The film showcases HU’s efforts to become a major player in the e-sports industry, our online story reports.

I-81 is the topic of discussion for regional transportation planners who are seeking public input on how to improve the highway. Our online story has more on the initiative that looks to update 12 focus areas along the road.

Jordan Dandy has been standing on the corner of Front and Forster streets for two weeks with the message, “I value you,” written on poster board. For many, he has become a bright spot in their morning commute. Check out his story in our online article.

House of Vegans is one of only a few vegan restaurants in the Harrisburg area. Our magazine story gives you a taste of the owners’ passion for healthy eating and the reason they opened their new shop.

Residential real estate is looking good as home sales and prices were up in August. Our online story has the numbers for Dauphin, Cumberland and Perry counties.

Sara Bozich is getting ready for fall by watching football, cooking a pot roast and heading to the Broad Street Market. Check out her list of fun things to do this weekend, including pick-your-own-apples and a Pumpkin Palooza.

State Street is slated for major changes to improve safety and make the road more pedestrian-friendly. Harrisburg city engineers spoke with the community on Tuesday about their plans to reduce traffic lanes and increase crosswalks, our online story reports.

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Harrisburg announces pop-up bike lanes on 6th Street for “Bike to Work Week”

September 18, 2020 | by Maddie Conley

Mayor Eric Papenfuse brings awareness to Harrisburg’s “Bike to Work Week” by riding to City Hall.

Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse strapped on his helmet and mounted his bike this morning to kick off “Bike to Work Week” in the city.

The week designated to cycling begins Monday, but a pop-up bike lane is already being set up along N. 6^th Street.

“We recognize more people will ride bikes if roadways are more accessible,” said Jim Buckheit of Bike Harrisburg at a press conference Friday morning. “This effectively demonstrates how we can improve options to allow people to use multiple modes of transportation getting to and from work.”

The popup lane is made of traffic cones and features “sharrows” painted on the street, which indicate that motorists share the road with bikers. The temporary pathway stretches from Linglestown Road to Reily Street to provide a corridor from Susquehanna Township to downtown Harrisburg.

“It’s very important we share the road and do it responsibly,” said Frank Lynch, president of Susquehanna Township’s board of commissioners.

The temporary lanes connect to the new dedicated bike lanes that Harrisburg added on N. 6^th Street, just past Reily Street. Cyclists can ride through the state Capitol Complex and onto Chestnut Street if they are looking to go downtown.

The Capital Area Greenbelt can be accessed from these lanes, as well.

“We’ve essentially bisected the city and provided a safe street [for bicycling],” Papenfuse said during his “Community Conversations” livestream last week.

“Bike to Work Week” is nationally recognized by the nonprofit, the League of American Bicyclists.

Harrisburg, Susquehanna Township and Bike Harrisburg collaborated to provide the pop-up lanes for the week.

At Friday’s press conference, Papenfuse told the story of Donald Welsh Jr., a former employee of his at Midtown Scholar Bookstore. Welsh biked to and from work each day, until one day in 2017, when he was hit by a car and killed on State Street.

“When I went to the funeral and spoke to his parents, I promised them that we are going to do everything in our power to make that street safer,” he said.

Harrisburg is in the midst of a project to reduce traffic lanes and add bike lanes on State Street, part of the city’s “Vision Zero” initiative to eliminate pedestrian and cyclist fatalities.

The temporary bike lanes for “Bike to Work Week” and the new lanes being added on streets like N. 6^th and Chestnut are part of “Vision Zero,” as well.

“I’m really excited; I ride almost every day,” said Harrisburg resident Lou Searles. “To get places safely is really important. I thought I’d never see this day.”

Buckheit said that bicycling has increased greatly in the city during the COVID-19 pandemic. He believes it will remain popular for recreation and transportation.

“We hope this model will be expanded to the other municipalities that surround Harrisburg, to have this ongoing network that allows for people who wish to bicycle in and out of our capital city to do so in a comfortable and safe manner,” Buckheit said.

Harrisburg’s “Bike to Work Week” runs from Sept. 21 to 27. For more information on Harrisburg’s “Vision Zero” initiative, visit https://visionzerohbg.com/.

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Harrisburg proposes “COVID-19” bonuses for essential workers

September 17, 2020 | by Maddie Conley

Harrisburg fire bureau responds to a recent call.

Harrisburg may show appreciation to its essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic with a proposed pay bonus.

At Tuesday’s City Council work session, Mayor Eric Papenfuse proposed designating about $800,000 in the city’s 2020 budget for “COVID-19” bonuses for frontline workers.

“As a city, we need to recognize the tireless work and commitment of all of our frontline responders throughout this health crisis,” Papenfuse said. “They had to be out there picking up the trash, cleaning the buildings and addressing city services.”

Each eligible worker will receive $2,500. The criteria for receiving the bonus is that the recipient had to come to work each day without an adjusted schedule or the option to telecommute, Papenfuse said.

He said that includes many American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME) union members. All Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) and International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) union members will receive the bonus, as will a few management-level positions.

“It’s important that we recognize the sacrifice and amazing service that we’ve seen from our employees,” Papenfuse said. “I don’t think residents saw a decline in city services even when that might’ve been possible and was certainly happening in other municipalities.”

Papenfuse said all eligible employees will receive the same bonus.

City council members generally expressed support for the “COVID-19” bonuses. The issue will be voted on at Tuesday’s legislative session.

“I think it is remarkable that our city employees were still able within good health to continue working during the COVID-19 pandemic,” council member Danielle Bowers said.

To watch past Harrisburg City Council meetings, visit the city’s YouTube channel.

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Harrisburg Council proposes changes to strengthen police advisory board, including subpoena power

September 16, 2020 | by Maddie Conley

A screenshot from Tuesday’s City Council work session.

Harrisburg City Council plans to make changes to a proposed police advisory board that would give the body more teeth, including administrative subpoena power.

During Tuesday’s work session, council member Ausha Green said that she will amend Bill 8 based upon input that council received from residents during three town hall meetings held in August.

“One thing that we heard from the public was the need for subpoena powers,” said Green, who chairs council’s public safety committee. “It’s not in our purview to give judicial subpoena powers, but we can afford administrative subpoena powers.”

Green also said she would like to insert a statement of intent into the bill. This would better communicate the board’s purpose of providing accountability to the Harrisburg police bureau rather than serving as a community liaison.

The proposed changes seemed to address additional public comments received by council and read during the meeting last night.

“I have concerns that the bill, as written, has no teeth in holding police accountable and makes the board into little more than a public relations mouthpiece for the police,” one public comment read.

Many public comments during the Tuesday meeting touched on the idea of allowing the board to act independently. In the past, people have asked that police Commissioner Thomas Carter be removed as a non-voting member of the board.

“The board must be allowed to deliberate in private,” resident Vishal Bajpai said. “To be legitimate, the board must be sufficiently independent from the Bureau of Police.”

As the bill stands, the commissioner and the public safety chair would both be non-voting members. Green proposed an amendment that would remove them and, instead, invite them to quarterly meetings. Taking their place would be two more voting members from the city at large appointed by the board, Green said.

Council member Danielle Bowers submitted an amendment, as well. She would like to see neighborhood groups formed throughout the city to confer and bring forth candidates, one from each of the seven policing districts.

“I think this would offer a prime opportunity for them to work together to offer a recommendation that they all feel best represents their neighborhood,” she said.

Council will discuss Bill 8 again at their next work session on Sept. 29. The amendments have yet to be voted on.

“I don’t have an issue with the amendments as drafted,” Mayor Eric Papenfuse said.

On the subject of policing, council discussed a proposed resolution that would establish use of force reporting to council and Papenfuse.

Since the resolution was introduced, the police bureau did provide council and the mayor with a report in June, city Solicitor Neil Grover said. The report included the existing required report on complaints with some information on use of force.

However, several council members said they weren’t satisfied with the report, saying it didn’t include everything they requested.

“It seems very high level,” Green said. “It seems like it was very quickly put together. It needs to be kept up to date on a monthly basis.”

Papenfuse said that he is planning to propose a records management position within the police bureau that is outward-facing and dedicated to reporting.

“We really do have a capacity issue at the police department and that is best addressed by the establishment of some new positions,” he said.

The resolution on use of force reporting will be brought up again at the next work session, as well.

To watch past Harrisburg City Council meetings, visit the city’s YouTube channel.

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Revived Paxtang Park officially opens, offers easy access to Greenbelt trails

September 10, 2020 | by Maddie Conley

Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse helps SAMBA, Capital Area Greenbelt Association and Paxtang officials cut the ribbon on the revived Paxtang Park.

A ribbon-cutting on Thursday delivered good news for fans of both family picnics and off-road biking.

Paxtang Park, which has a long and noteworthy history, had been overgrown and unused for many years until the Susquehanna Area Mountain Bike Association (SAMBA) got its hands on it. Now, a reconstructed and revived park is officially re-opened to the public.

The park is tucked almost under I-83, right off the Greenbelt and just a few minutes from Harrisburg Mall. Just across the street is an entry point onto the trail.

“This is a place for friends and family to gather and spend time together,” said Paxtang Borough Manager Keldeen Stambaugh.

Paxtang Park includes just under 20 parking spots, a large pavilion with picnic tables and a kiosk with maps and historic photos of what the park once was.

The park is in a perfect spot, as there are not many other places around for trail-goers to park, according to Capital Area Greenbelt Association (CAGA) board member Dick Norford.

Paxtang Park sits right in the middle of SAMBA’s 10 miles of trails that it maintains on the Greenbelt. The trails are used by mountain bikers, as well as hikers.

According to Charles Palenz, who does maintenance for the Greenbelt, SAMBA works very closely with CAGA. The Paxtang Park project demonstrated that partnership.

In addition, Harrisburg’s Parks and Recreation Department, along with Paxtang Borough, worked with SAMBA to make it happen.

Paxtang Park

“One of the great things is this unites all of the municipalities together,” Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse said. “I love the Greenbelt, and I love that we are all working together to make this the connective tissue of the region.”

In 2017, SAMBA had the idea to restore Paxtang Park. Applying for permits and organizing the project took a few years, but volunteers completed much of the physical work in the last six months, SAMBA Vice President Chris Shelly said.

However, the history of the park dates back to the late 1800s, Stambaugh said.

The park was originally about 40 acres and served as a trolley car turnaround spot, Norford said. In the early 1900s, to entice people to ride the trolley, the company built a “trolley park.” It included a rollercoaster, carousel, restaurant and a lake for boating, among other attractions.

With people increasingly turning to cars, the trolley system shut down, and the park eventually fell out of use. But it was the first of its kind in the region, even before Hershey Park, Norford added.

Now, Paxtang Park is much smaller and doesn’t feature any rollercoasters or carousels, but SAMBA sees it a place for people to meet and enjoy the outdoors.

Funds for the project were raised by SAMBA, Pennsy Supply donated the stone for the parking lot, and Harrisburg donated the wood chips for the area around the pavilion.

Once PennDOT completes work on I-83, Shelly anticipates Paxtang Park will need to be shifted over or relocated to avoid sitting directly under the highway.

“We really hope this becomes a gathering point,” Shelly said. “We are going to continue to try to improve this facility.”

Paxtang Park is located at 147 City Park Dr., Harrisburg. For more information, visit SAMBA’s website.

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Mayor’s proposal to hire Martin-Roberts struck down by Harrisburg City Council

September 8, 2020 | by Maddie Conley

A screen shot of City Council’s virtual legislative session on Tuesday.

Council voted against entering into a contract with a former City Council president on Tuesday, with some members charging that the position was a campaign move by Mayor Eric Papenfuse.

The resolution was introduced at last week’s work session, when Papenfuse said he wanted to hire Gloria Martin-Roberts to facilitate communications between the administration and council, the Dauphin County commissioners and the public.

Several Harrisburg officials, including Police Commissioner Thomas Carter, joined Tuesday’s legislative session to express support for Martin-Roberts. But that was not enough to get council on board. Many members did not hold back in expressing their concerns with the resolution.

“This is something that members of council have all asked for and have been constantly told that this is something that wasn’t needed at the time,” council member Westburn Majors said. “It is very convenient, in my opinion, that this is something that is coming at this current time.”

Other council members brought up a similar issue with the timing of the position beginning just months before the 2021 mayoral campaign. Papenfuse is widely expected to run for a third term next year.

“Mayor, you should not have to hire a senior management consultant to repair damaged relationships within your own administration, with the Dauphin County Commissioners or with any other local stakeholders,” council member Danielle Bowers said.

Martin-Roberts, who attended the virtual meeting, responded to the concerns by saying that she would have no involvement in the mayoral election.

“I would think that for those of you that know me well, you know I’m honest and I’m ethical,” Martin-Roberts said. “I’m not in here to do anything dirty. The word ‘cronyism’ was mentioned; I take offense to that.”

However, her efforts to persuade council ultimately failed when members voted against the resolution 4-2, with Council President Wanda Williams and council member Dave Madsen voting in favor. (Council member Ben Allatt was not present.)

To watch past City Council meetings, visit Harrisburg’s YouTube channel.

Local leaders, elected officials cut the ribbon on African American history monument

August 26, 2020 | by Maddie Conley

Community members cut the ribbon on a monument celebrating African American history in the state.

As you walk downtown you may see some new faces.

Local leaders, elected officials and community members gathered to cut the ribbon on a new monument on the state Capitol grounds recognizing Harrisburg’s African American history.

For the past few years, members of the Commonwealth Monument Project have been planning and preparing the large bronze monument that now sits at 4^th and Walnut Streets.

“Today’s monument is a long-overdue tribute to the hardworking Pennsylvanians who lived and worked here in the 8^th Ward,” PA Gov. Tom Wolf said.

The project’s Executive Director Lenwood Sloan saw the memorial as a way to pay tribute to Harrisburg’s Old 8^th Ward, a historic primarily Black and immigrant neighborhood that was demolished to make room for the Capitol complex.

The monument is titled “A Gathering At The Crossroads: For Such A Time As This.” The base, or the “Orator’s Pedestal,” features 100 names of families from the Old 8^th Ward. On top sits a map of the historic neighborhood’s streets. Two figures surround the pedestal, African-American abolitionist William Howard Day and suffragist Frances E.W. Harper.

Sloan said on Nov. 14, two more figures will be added, Jacob T. Compton, a sergeant of the 24th United States Colored Infantry (USCT) and local musician, and T. Morris Chester, Civil War correspondent and recruiter.

The A.R.T Foundry of Lancaster is responsible for creating the monument.

The small plaza where the monument sits is being named the Irvis Equality Circle. It allows visitors to walk around and view the monument.

“It is a proud day to be mayor of the City of Harrisburg,” said Mayor Eric Papenfuse. “This has completely changed the streetscape.”

Papenfuse presented Sloan with the key to the city, a significant gesture he said he doesn’t do often.

Leaders, elected officials and others who had a hand in the project gathered around the monument to form a “unity circle.”

“Behold how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity,” Sloan said.

The Commonwealth Monument Project is part of the IIPT Harrisburg Peace Promenade.

Philanthropist Peggy Grove, Dauphin County and the City of Harrisburg were the top funders of the project. M&T Bank, Giant Company, Highmark and The Foundation for Enhancing Communities contributed as well.

“What started as a vision has come to fruition,” said Phyllis Bennett, a member of the project’s team.

For more information on the Commonwealth Monument Project, visit https://digitalharrisburg.com/commonwealth/. For more on the IIPT Harrisburg Peace Promenade, visit their website.

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Harrisburg community, leaders hold vigil to show unity, support for Kesher Israel

August 12, 2020 | by Maddie Conley

Community gathers for a vigil at Kesher Israel on N. 3rd Street.

On Monday, Rabbi Elisha Friedman stood outside of his synagogue, looking at a pair of swastikas that had been painted on the building—a symbol of hate.

Today, he stood in that same place seeing signs of love.

A diverse crowd gathered outside of Kesher Israel on Wednesday evening to stand in solidarity with the Jewish community.

“The response from this community has been really incredible,” Friedman said. “Each person by being here today is making a statement that this is unacceptable to go on in this area. We are not going to allow this kind of behavior to happen again.”

The vigil was held by the Mayor’s Interfaith Advisory Council. Police Commissioner Thomas Carter, Rep. Patty Kim (D-Harrisburg) and local faith leaders were among those who spoke.

“What I see here is love,” Carter said. “It took some cowards under the shield of nighttime to paint a swastika. But it didn’t drive a fork in any of our hearts. It brought us together.”

Friedman said that Harrisburg police arrived minutes after he called them on Monday morning. He added that the state troopers and FBI were helpful, as well.

Rabbi Elisha Friedman of Kesher Israel Congregation speaks at the vigil.

Pastor James Jackson of Goodwin Memorial Baptist Church was one of the many faith leaders who spoke at the event.

“We members of the Goodwin Memorial Baptist church, who are your closest neighbors of faith, want to say to whoever did this, this is not acceptable,” he said.

This act of anti-Semitism is just one of many related incidents in the state, said Russell Goodman, who is part of the Interfaith Advisory Council.

The negative impact the swastika has on the Jewish community mirrors that of the confederate flag on the Black community, said Tameka Hatcher of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission.

“Symbolism matters,” she said. “As a person who believes in the dignity and the sanctity of lives of all people, we the Black community stand with our brothers and sisters of faith in the Jewish community.”

In closing, Jackson prayed for peace and unity in the community.

“The thing that we leave here with will be a renewed determination to see that this city, this community and this nation, turns into a place where all of our kids can grow up in an atmosphere of love and peace,” Jackson said.

Kesher Israel Congregation is located at 2500 N. 3^rd St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit their website. To learn more about the Mayor’s Interfaith Advisory Council, visit their Facebook page.

Love on a Bun: At Queen’s, the barbecue is tender. So are the people.

July 31, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

Anya & Titus Queen

“Hey!” “Are you OK?”

Titus Queen looks out of the plate-glass window of his super-snug restaurant and spies one of the 3rd Street regulars passing on by. Something didn’t look quite right to him.

He darts outside. The man said he was fine, but Titus wanted to be sure. He comes back and turns the lock on the door.

“It’s all right,” he says to Anya, his wife and business partner.

As I sat for an hour with the owners of Queen’s BBQ and Southern Cuisine, I was reminded of my own Italian household when I was growing up—you just never know who’s going to show up.

A cousin drops by. A close friend comes in, hands Anya a gift, then helps out taking orders. People tap on the window and wave.

And then there are the customers, who, for now, in these pandemic times, are relegated to calling ahead and picking up their heaps of pulled pork, brisket, collards and mac and cheese curbside.

“We definitely miss not being able to interact with people like we want,” Anya said. “That’s been the most difficult thing.”

But, in truth, there have been many difficult things in the short history of Queen’s.

Landlord issues delayed the opening for over a year, relegating the couple to working at the now-closed Subway franchise a few doors down until that was cleared up. Then COVID hit, forcing them to shut down quickly in March, just a month after officially opening.

They cautiously opened back up in April and have been gradually adding days and hours since. But you still can’t just walk in. There’s simply no room in the tiny waiting area for anyone to socially distance.

“We’re not going to open up our lobby until they figure out COVID because we don’t want to put anybody at risk,” Anya said.

Another big challenge is what’s across the street—or what isn’t.

Queen’s sits within a block or two of where thousands of state workers should be every day—the Capitol Complex, the PA Liquor Control Board, the State Museum, etc. Those buildings remain largely empty.

Titus and Anya are very open about their uphill battle, but believe that their tasty southern fare and the support of the community will see them through. They point to their strong marks on several food rating sites and their network of friends, family and just hungry fans.

“The community has been very supportive,” Anya said.

One of those customers is Harrisburg’s chief executive.

Mayor Eric Papenfuse has become a regular, especially of the pulled pork sandwich (“every bite melts in your mouth”), which he orders with coleslaw, and a side of macaroni and cheese (“creamy and satisfying”).

“Queen’s BBQ is an exceptional addition to the culinary scene in Harrisburg,” Papenfuse said. “I’m proud to support this small business and recommend it to everyone.”

Ivan Black, owner of Next Step Performance, a gym located at the 1500 Condominium, is another big fan. He said that he orders at least weekly, recently phoning in for a rack of ribs and a side of collard greens. For Black, patronizing Queen’s is “killing two birds with one stone”—you get great food and great people.

“They’re fantastic,” he said. “They do such a great job with their food, but you also get to support a business that you’d like to see make it when this whole (pandemic) thing is over.”

And that’s exactly where Titus and Anya Queen are focused, as well. They’re offering the best food and service they can in the hope that, one day, COVID will be history, and they can welcome people back inside to their counter.

Anya only hopes that happens before their new granddaughter gets too big because, if you ask, she’ll smile broadly and excitedly flip through the pictures on her phone to show you.

“Isn’t she the cutest?” Anya said. “She’s always smiling.”

She said that she learned about the intersection of food, family and caring for others from her grandmother, who lived on Allison Hill and insisted on feeding the entire neighborhood.

“She always had food on the stove,” she said. “She always fed people whenever they were hungry.”

For a moment, the couple is able to cast their worries aside and think about a more prosperous future for themselves, their family and their community.

“We try to always be thankful for everything we have,” Titus said. “That’s our slogan.”

Queen’s BBQ & Southern Cuisine is located at 912 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.queensbbqandsoutherncuisine.com or their Facebook page or call 717-526-9998.

Driving Change: Harrisburg streets get new look, design as “Vision Zero” projects continue

July 27, 2020 | by Maddie Conley

Travel lanes were reduced and bike/bus lanes were added on N. 6th Street.

The name of the program may be “Vision Zero,” but Harrisburg officials have more than a vision to improve city streets–they have a plan.

On Friday’s edition of Community Conversations with Mayor Eric Papenfuse, the engineers behind the projects highlighted the work that has recently been done and the construction to come.

The city released its “Vision Zero” action plan over a year ago and pledged to improve road safety. Their goal is to bring the number of annual pedestrian fatalities to zero by 2030.

“It is a commitment to eliminate pedestrian injuries that result from motor crashes,” city Engineer Wayne Martin said.

Most recently, work was completed on N. 6^th Street, where a “road diet” was implemented between Boas and Reily streets. This means travel lanes were removed, bike lanes and bus drop-off zones were added, and more parking was made available, all to make the corridor narrower and more pedestrian-friendly.

Moving right up, a N. 7^th Street project is in the final stages of design as well, according to Martin. The main element of this plan is a roundabout that will be constructed near the new federal courthouse. This eliminates left-hand turning, which has caused issues in that section of the street, Martin said.

In addition, a center median featuring trees will split the lanes. Street trees provide shade, reduce the urban heat island effect, and better manage stormwater, Martin said.

These features also are expected to have a traffic calming effect, Martin explained.

Once permits are in place, Martin expects construction to begin in the spring of 2021. The N. 7th Street project is fully funded by grant money, Martin said.

The public can expect to see a project finished in MulDer Square even sooner.

Signs of work on the city’s Derry Street project are already being seen as new sidewalk has been laid, ADA-accessible ramps were installed and stormwater management features have been added. But this is just one phase of the project.

“The work that’s happening right now in MulDer Square is a precursor of other things to come,” Project Manager Ambrose Buck said.

Starting as early as September or October, construction will begin on the cul-de-sac at the end of Derry Street, including the stairs that lead down to Cameron Street. A green space will be built, in addition to some paths to make the area more walkable for residents.

“This is a way to revitalize this area and improve quality of life in these neighborhoods,” Martin said.

Construction of a mini-roundabout at the intersection of Mulberry and Derry streets, as well as the transformation of Nectarine Street’s asphalt to green infrastructure, are also part of the project.

Similar work was done not long ago on the intersection at 4^th and Maclay streets. New asphalt was added, sidewalks were replaced, crosswalks were added and ADA-compliant ramps built.

On many people’s minds has been the proposal to transform 2^nd Street from a one-way to a two-way traffic, Papenfuse said.

Martin gave an update, saying design should be completed this year and construction will likely begin in the spring.

“This is a major, major transformational project,” Martin said.

Besides the changing flow of traffic, the city will add pedestrian refuge islands for people crossing the street, mini roundabouts and ADA-compliant ramps.

Martin explained that the street will become two-way at the beginning of construction to test its effectiveness.

Other coming projects include State Street improvements to tighten travel lanes and boost pedestrian safety, as well as proposed changes to Forster Street that would reduce the road width and add pedestrian-friendly features. These are still in the planning stages.

“We have to make sure we are all willing to compromise–the community, PennDOT and the city–on a plan that everyone can see as a step forward,” Papenfuse said.

For more information on the city’s “Vision Zero” plan, visit https://visionzerohbg.com/. To watch past Community Conversations, visit the City of Harrisburg’s YouTube channel.

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