City Gets $750,000 Grant To Help “Buckle the Belt”
In mid-January the City of Harrisburg received a $750,000 grant from the state Department of Community and Economic Development in support of the initial phase of a project to relocate the Greenbelt in south Harrisburg.
The grant application was submitted by the City in support of the Capital Area Greenbelt Association (CAGA). The City will serve as the grant recipient and work closely with CAGA on its administration and implementation.
The project aims to get Greenbelt users off the current detour that uses heavily travelled Cameron and Sycamore Streets onto private property, shielded from traffic onto a safe, attractive, and environmentally sound off-road trail. The plan tentatively calls for the trail to be rerouted onto a widened sidewalk on the north side of Sycamore Street, then make a hairpin turn onto property currently owned by Pennsy Supply, going under the Sycamore Street bridge and onto a trail to be developed on what used to be South 9th Street, then joining the
Greenbelt at Shanois Street near the old Lochiel Hotel.
The project is still in the design process and Phase 1 includes the completion of the design and the widening of the sidewalk on Sycamore Street. Phase 2, calls for the acquisition of the property needed and the completion of the trail including engineering, paving, and landscaping.
CAGA President Doug Hill was delighted to hear of the proposed grant’s approval and voiced appreciation for the cooperation of Mayor Williams and City Council in their work with CAGA to bring the grant to fruition. He also thanked State Senator Patty Kim, and State
Representatives Nate Davidson, Tom Mehaffie, and Justin Fleming for their advocacy for the grant’s approval.
CAGA members and Greenbelt users are reminded, the grant money will only cover part of the cost of this project. CAGA has launched a campaign to “Buckle the Belt” with a goal of $300,000 to bring the project to completion. You can make contributions by visiting CAGA’s Buckle the Belt page.