If you’re observant at all, you’ve probably noticed changes occurring to the face of the city. There’s a beautification effort spreading throughout the city, and it’s spreading like a virus. Once you’ve caught the enthusiasm, it’s hard to shake it. City pride is alive and growing in Harrisburg. Just take a look around and you’re sure to find it.

Perception is our best friend and our worst enemy when it comes to how Harrisburg is regarded by both outsiders and residents. In 1902, Harrisburg was awarded the honor of being voted “The Most Beautiful City in the Country.” Since that time, Harrisburg has gone through some pretty tough times, and residents’ attitudes reflect the lack of pride in their neighborhoods and themselves. After over thirty years of negative perception, Harrisburg residents have an inordinate negative perspective about themselves and the city. “It is difficult to get people to see a positive future,” explains Randy King, Press Secretary/Assistant to the Mayor. But over the last ten years the ’Burg has been making a steady comeback. In 1985 and 1990, Harrisburg achieved “All-American City” status which began helping restore pride in the City’s residents. And it’s part of Mayor Stephen Reed’s vision to make Harrisburg once again “The Most Beautiful City in the Country.” But “changing will not happen overnight or even within one single decade,” states King.

A comprehensive and holistic approach to change the appearance of the City for both residents and visitors is underway by the Harrisburg Parks and Recreation and the Building and Housing Development departments. Thirty million dollars have already been spent to rehabilitate the City’s park system — spanning 28 parks, playgrounds, and open sites. One hundred million dollars has been spent on home rehabilitation and beautification projects. Two notable programs included are Adopt-A-Lot, which concentrates on cleaning up dilapidated and abused properties by clearing and fencing them for recreational use; and Adopt-A-Block, which brings neighbors together in a concerted effort to help clean up neighborhoods with the City’s assistance and financial backing.

Many individual City projects contributing to the overall beautification movement can be sited, including the Midtown Market District, City Island, and the Greater Harrisburg Fire Museum. The Broad Street Market is slated to begin the third phase of improvements in the Stone Market Building (the older of the two Market buildings). Millions have been spent in these projects alone, but the effectiveness is measurable. Several new businesses have opened in both the Broad Street Market and the Midtown Market District over the last year. People are moving back into the area and investing in the future of Midtown Harrisburg.

Merchants in the Midtown Market District could be found recently taking pride in the area by planting flower boxes, hanging flower baskets, installing decorative lighting, and improving the outsides of their establishments (Santo’s Mid-Town and The Bead Tree). These are merchants that know that if it looks ugly on the outside, no one is going to want to come inside. They’re investing pride and money in their city and not receiving compensation to do it.

The campaign “2000 Trees by 2000” was launched in October 1998. Since then, several organizations have joined forces to make an impact. Most recently you’ve noticed the trees and shrubs planted down the median of Forster Street from Third Street to the Harvey Taylor Bridge. Harrisburg Young Professionals (HYP), PennDOT, and the City of Harrisburg provided services, equipment, and water for the improvement, while local nurseries provided the trees and shrubs. Future plantings include portions of the I-83 interchange at Second Street and lengthening the Forster Street median plantings up to 7th Street.

In keeping with creating a better impression of the ’Burg as outsiders enter the city, HYP held it’s third beautification event of the year on Market Street between Fourth and 13th Streets during June. The group met at the Market Street Post Office with shovels, brooms, gloves, and garbage bags that had been supplied by the city’s Adopt-A-Block program. Making Harrisburg an inviting place to live, work, and play is HYP’s vision. Alex Hertzler, HYP’s president, explains, “If you want it to happen in Harrisburg, you’ve got to make it happen.” HYP is definitely making it happen with several city beautification fundraising events held already this year and future beautification events being planned, tentatively including the old Penn National building currently under renovation.

The “Capitol Corridors” initiative seeks to invest public and private money into improving main corridors within the City, including Paxton Street, Derry Street, State Street, Third Street, and Seventh Street, all of which are heavily traveled thoroughfares within the city.

A “Downtown Improvement District” is being created with the residents and business owners in downtown Harrisburg. The new District is being created to provide hospitality representatives to travelers downtown and hire cleanup crews for the downtown neighborhoods. These hospitality representatives will be available to give directions and help travelers find their way in the ’Burg. Mayor Reed said in his State of the City Address, “(the Downtown Improvement District) will make a visible and positive difference in both the perception and the appearance of major parts of the central business district.”

Further, the city plans to spend one million dollars on Riverfront Park embankment stabilization. These improvements will correct the flood damage of 1996 and prevent further deterioration during high water periods.

Citywide signage designed to help visitors locate local attractions and lighting of downtown buildings at night providing attraction to the City itself are both planned for the near future. Also contributing to the City’s facelift is the largest ever street-reconstruction and resurfacing project, an endeavor that began in the City this year. This street rehabilitation project will cover major corridors, secondary routes, and neighborhood avenues. Prepare for some inconvenience, but get over it, because the pain will be worth the payoff!

The Police Bureau and the Building and Housing Development department are actively involved in an active Community Relations project with neighborhood citizens pitching in to help clean up neighborhoods and prevent crime in over 120 city blocks.

Seriously blighted buildings that discourage developers and lenders interest in Harrisburg are being torn down in the largest demolition project ever undertaken in City history. These vacant, structurally decayed buildings will no longer have the power to lower property values and invite drug trafficking into their neighborhoods. When people take ownership and pride in their communities, corruption will have no choice but to move out of Harrisburg.

Several programs, including Operation Clean Sweep, Keep PA Beautiful, Lottsville Community Action Center, and the Camp Curtain Y, have each been instrumental in neighborhood clean-ups and lot clean-ups, but everyone needs to pitch in to make Harrisburg a better place for our future and our children’s future. “It would be great if everyone swept in front of their own doors, but this is a start,” says Sandra Moston of the Harrisburg City Council.

In a time when people have become accustomed to wanting things done for them instead of getting up and doing things for themselves, it is great to see so many organizations and individuals getting involved to make this city a beautiful place. Society takes too much of a selfish “me first” approach when we really should be putting other things first for our future. Putting our future first as a city will immediately improve our own attitude, but more importantly the attitude of our children. “Harrisburg residents need to take accountability for their neighborhoods and the future of their children. This is our best hope for a bright future,” King comments.