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Department of Parks, Recreation, and Maintenance

About Us

The City of Harrisburg is rich in parks, playgrounds and other green space.  The Trust for Public Lands indicates that 96% of the residents of Harrisburg live within a ten-minute walk of a park.  Harrisburg’s large and diverse parks and recreation system, surrounded by the Capital Area Greenbelt, provides something for everyone.  The Greenbelt is a 20-mile trail loop through and around Harrisburg.  It passes along the Susquehanna River through Riverfront Park, through wooded, residential and urban areas and scenic parks, including Reservoir Park and Wildwood Park.

The goal of the City of Harrisburg Department of Parks, Recreation and Facilities is to ensure that the city’s 25 parks and playgrounds and two swimming pools remain attractive and inviting for public use. The Department is also responsible for maintenance and upkeep for the Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr. City Government Center, the Public Safety Building and various other buildings and facilities in the city.

 

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Park with bridge

Location

123 Walnut Street, Suite 317

Harrisburg, PA 17101

Phone

(717) 255-3003

Email

[email protected]

Related Pages

On Tuesday, August 27th the City installed a community art project on City Island. Visitors to City Island can view the fish sculptures hanging near the boat launch.
Fish Sculpture Community Art Project Installation
YouTube Video UExQcXYwNmhLeTVhQ3JtTC03VEtMYWQzNkpWNzFoQTJHQS42QzdBMzlBQzQzRjQ0QkQy

Fish Sculpture Community Art Project Installation

The City of Harrisburg and WHBG-TV 20 is giving you an exclusive look at the early stages of work inside the Broad Street Market brick building reconstruction. The City has hired multiple companies to come in and clear out the damage from the July 2023 fire, and get it ready for a new design. Construction is expected to begin in Spring 2025, with an estimated completion date of late 2026 to early 2027.
EXCLUSIVE: Go inside the Broad Street Market Brick Building Demolition & Construction
YouTube Video UExQcXYwNmhLeTVhQ3JtTC03VEtMYWQzNkpWNzFoQTJHQS4zMUEyMkQwOTk0NTg4MDgw

EXCLUSIVE: Go inside the Broad Street Market Brick Building Demolition & Construction

Grab those swimsuits and floaties; Jackson Lick Pool is opening for the summer. Families in Harrisburg will have a great place to cool off and have fun over the next few months. The Jackson Lick Pool is opening Wednesday, June 12, and will remain open through Sunday, September 1. The pool will operate from Noon to 6pm from Tuesdays to Sundays. It will be closed on Mondays. Daily rates for families are $2 for children 3 to 17 years old, $4 for adults, and FREE for children ages 2 and under. There will be two Community Days during the summer where families can attend for free: Wednesday, July 10 and a date in August still to be announced, Mayor Wanda R.D. Williams confirmed on Tuesday.
Harrisburg's Jackson Lick Pool is opening with great prices and renovations
YouTube Video UExQcXYwNmhLeTVhQ3JtTC03VEtMYWQzNkpWNzFoQTJHQS4wMTYxQzVBRDI1NEVDQUZE

Harrisburg's Jackson Lick Pool is opening with great prices and renovations

From musical performances to live art to a unique community projects, there was something for everyone at the 2024 Artsfest in Harrisburg's Riverfront Park. Relive some of the best sights and sounds from a memorable Memorial Day Weekend in the city!
Relive the City of Harrisburg's 56th annual Artsfest!
YouTube Video UExQcXYwNmhLeTVhQ3JtTC03VEtMYWQzNkpWNzFoQTJHQS4wNEU1MTI4NkZEMzVBN0JF

Relive the City of Harrisburg's 56th annual Artsfest!

On April 25, Mayor Wanda R.D. Williams presented an Arbor Day proclamation to City of Harrisburg Forester Cody Legge and dozens of volunteers from PPL Electric Utilities who were planting 27 trees in the neighborhood next to Wilson Park. Arbor Day is tomorrow, April 26, and the City of Harrisburg is proudly a Tree City USA designee by the Arbor Day Foundation.
Arbor Day Proclamation made by Mayor Williams
YouTube Video UExQcXYwNmhLeTVhQ3JtTC03VEtMYWQzNkpWNzFoQTJHQS5CQkEwRDA0MDkwNUM2MDY1

Arbor Day Proclamation made by Mayor Williams

The City of Harrisburg and Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), along with local environmental leaders, celebrate Earth Day at Reservoir Park on Monday, April 22. The City and Commonwealth are working together to make Harrisburg a commonwealth leader in environmental initiatives, through programs which every city resident can participate, including creative family events and Lights Out Harrisburg, a national program which is being adopted by the city to promote safe nighttime passage of spring bird migration.
City of Harrisburg celebrates Earth Day with Pa. Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
YouTube Video UExQcXYwNmhLeTVhQ3JtTC03VEtMYWQzNkpWNzFoQTJHQS5GNjAwN0Y0QTFGOTVDMEMy

City of Harrisburg celebrates Earth Day with Pa. Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

As the weather gets warmer, the City of Harrisburg becomes more beautiful. Harrisburg’s Spring tree planting is underway, making the city cleaner and greener with 30 new trees planted in East Harrisburg. The City’s semiannual tree planting began Thursday in the Taylor Park Apartment Complex and will run through Saturday, April 13, weather permitting. A second planting will focus on the homes surrounding Wilson Park, from Thursday, April 25 to Saturday, April 27. Thirty bare-root trees will be taken care of in the first community planting, while the number of trees for the late April planting is still to be determined. “Seasonal tree plantings help reduce environmental issues we see around us every day. Air pollution reduction, stormwater management, energy savings, and carbon sequestering are all problems that can be alleviated by simply planting trees,” said City Forester Cody Legge. “Besides these physically measurable variables, trees break up the harsh edges and dull color of the increasingly urban surroundings which leads to a more pleasurable living experience.” Volunteers can still sign up to help with the late April planting by clicking this link, which will gather at 9 a.m. at the Wilson Park Pavilion. If signing up more than one adult, please complete the form for each individual, providing name, email, and cell phone where they can be reached for further details about the event. Adults should include children under 18 on their form. Information will stay private and used for purposes of this planting only. Since 2019, the City of Harrisburg has planted more than 500 new trees, largely by volunteers. Trees set for Wilson Park are from the non-profit TreePennsylvania. The Wilson Park/Taylor Apartment neighborhood has a high Tree Equity Score, according to Legge. A Tree Equity Score is a metric that helps cities assess how well they are delivering equitable tree canopy cover to all residents. Scores range from 0-100. The lower the score, the greater priority for tree planting. A score of 100 means the neighborhood has met tree planting goals. This particular neighborhood has a score of 75, making it a high priority for improvement. “All of the streets at this location have wide planting strips that held many trees,” Legge said. “As these trees deteriorate, nothing was replanted and now most of the streets are without tree cover and the subsequent effects of that can be felt. We will plant a diverse mix of large-maturing species to reverse some of these impacts.” Handtools, work gloves, water, and snacks will be provided. Volunteers can bring their own, and a refillable water bottle as well. The City of Harrisburg hosts seasonal tree plantings in the Spring, and then again in the Fall, with a different neighborhood targeted each time. Property owners are offered new street trees, suitable for their site, at no cost. Residents are asked if they can help plant their own tree, and that they also care for it until it becomes an established tree. Harrisburg has earned a national distinction by the Arbor Day Foundation as a Tree City USA, putting Harrisburg into a class of municipalities that values environmental concern. Keeping and displaying this award generates pride among the residents and holds current and future administrations to its standards.
Spring Tree Planting in the Taylor Park Apartment Complex
YouTube Video UExQcXYwNmhLeTVhQ3JtTC03VEtMYWQzNkpWNzFoQTJHQS43NERCMDIzQzFBMERCMEE3

Spring Tree Planting in the Taylor Park Apartment Complex

Harrisburg's beautiful Italian Lake is undergoing a needed deep cleaning. The process of dredging will clean trash, debris, and sediment from its bottom. This will restore the lake's depth, promoting growth of aquatic plants, which provides habitat for food and various wildlife species. Increased water clarity supports the growth of submerged vegetation, which in turn oxygenates the water and supports fish populations. Enhanced oxygen levels in the water contribute to a thriving ecosystem, supporting a diverse array of aquatic life and promoting overall environmental sustainability at Italian Lake Park.
Dredging project begins at Italian Lake
YouTube Video UExQcXYwNmhLeTVhQ3JtTC03VEtMYWQzNkpWNzFoQTJHQS41NTZEOThBNThFOUVGQkVB

Dredging project begins at Italian Lake

Hundreds of people and dozens of families showed up to the Reservoir Park Bandshell on Monday, April 8 to watch the 2024 Solar Eclipse. The eclipse reached 92% totality across Central Pennsylvania. Everyone looked to the sky with special filtered glasses between 2:30-3:30pm as the moon crossed between the Earth and the Sun.
Harrisburg watches incredible historic 2024 Solar Eclipse in Reservoir Park!
YouTube Video UExQcXYwNmhLeTVhQ3JtTC03VEtMYWQzNkpWNzFoQTJHQS42Qzk5MkEzQjVFQjYwRDA4

Harrisburg watches incredible historic 2024 Solar Eclipse in Reservoir Park!

Parks and Recreation is offering free movie nights at the Reservoir Park, Bandshell.  This is a family-oriented event. We are asking everyone to make sure to keep the park clean. If you have trash, make sure the trash gets into a trash container

Details

Location: Reservoir Park, Band Shell

Movie Starts: 8:00pm

Schedule

June 30 – Encanto
July 7 – Remember The Titans
July 14 – Clifford
July 21 – Spider Man Into The Spiderverse
July 28 – Space Jam: A New Legacy
August 4 – Annie
August 11 – Minions
August 18 – Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Please Bring Your Own:

  • Blankets/Chair
  • Water
  • Snacks
  • Paper Towels
  • Hand Sanitizer
  • Bug Spray

    Other Things to Remember:

    • Portable Toilets are available onsite
    • No Smoking
    • No Alcohol
    • Cell Phones should be on vibrate during the movie

    Traffic

    Markets St & Walnut St entrances and exit will be open for the entire event. Vehicles entering at the State entrance will all turn right at Reservoir Drive. Parking is avaiable in the Band Shell Parking lot, rear by the Civil War and other designated location by staff.

    Paxtang & Concert Drive will be closed at 7:00pm. Vehicles entering from Market St after 7pm will have to park at the Civil War Museum rear or enter at one of the above listed entrances.