Capital Area Greenbelt
The Capital Area Greenbelt is a trail located in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. This 20-mile loop that rings Pennsylvania's capital city is designed to provide its visitors the opportunity to hike, ride bicycles, skate, jog, fish, walk their dog, enjoy native flora and fauna, and generally appreciate nature. One stretch of the Greenbelt is located on the Susquehanna River, giving the trail some of the most beautiful and enjoyable natural surroundings that the area has to offer. Some highlights along the trail include Reservoir Park, Riverfront Park, Five Senses Garden, and Wildwood Park and Nature Center. In addition to beautiful parks, the Greenbelt showcases some historical attractions including the grave site of John Harris Sr. (the namesake of the city of Harrisburg), the Governor's Mansion, and the National Civil War Museum.
| Capital Area Greenbelt | |
|---|---|
| Location | TrailLink map |
| Length | 20 miles |
| Trailhead | Five Senses Garden HACC Wildwood Lake Sanctuary |
| Uses | Hiking, biking, cross country skiing, fishing |
| Difficulty | Easy, level, ADA accessible |
| Surface | Asphalt, concrete, crushed stone |
| Hours | Dawn to dusk, year-round |
| Amenities | Picnic facilities at parks |
| Bathrooms | Several at public places around the trail |
Historical development
Historical significance
In the early 1900s, Mira Lloyd Dock had just returned from Europe with a new vision for how Harrisburg could be improved. To implement her vision, she hired landscape architect Warren Manning to develop the city's parks. Manning then recommended creating a ring boulevard encircling the city to connect its parks, which was the beginnings of what would become the Greenbelt. In the first two decades after the project was started, there was immense support and progress. However, by the 1920s, the project fell to the wayside. The plan was never fully realized, partly because of the migration of city residents to the suburbs, which devastated the city budget. Most of the parkway was gated and abandoned, causing it to fall into disuse and disrepair. Some sections of the current Greenbelt were not abandoned, but instead used as a parkway for cars. Another part of trail, constituting less than one mile of the greenway, was occupied by railroad tracks for the South Harrisburg Steel Mill.
Trail's history and evolution
The Capital Area Greenbelt Association (CAGA) was formed in 1990 to restore completed sections of the greenway and begin working on areas that had never been developed. The city of Harrisburg and four surrounding townships and boroughs worked with CAGA to develop and enhance the trail. Significant grants obtained throughout the 1990s allowed the 20-mile loop to be essentially completed. Today, the association continues to work on improving the trail through new safety measures and improved maintenance. Grant monies and dedicated volunteers keep the association going.
Trail development
Design and Construction
The original parkway was designed and constructed according to a master plan, of which about 60% was constructed. When CAGA reclaimed the trail, unfinished sections in South Harrisburg were first constructed by volunteers as a dirt trail. Other portions were constructed using grass and woodchips, but have now been converted to a surface of crushed limestone. The Greenbelt has several bridges over creeks and streams. The trail is ADA accessible with the exception of a few pedestrian crossings that lack curb cuts.
Trail Amenities
Many amenities are available on the trail and just off the trail. Ample parking is available at popular spots to begin which include City Island, the Five Senses Garden and Harrisburg Area Community College (HACC) campus. Restroom facilities are available in many locations just off the trail at local businesses and restaurants. Picnic areas are available at many parks along the trail including the Five Senses Garden and the Wildwood Lake Sanctuary. There are approximately 10 kiosks located throughout the trail that provide current and historical information to users. Water fountains are conveniently located along the riverfront area. Garbage is generally "carry-in, carry-out," however there are limited receptacles along the trail. A majority of the trail has mile markers.
Community
Trail supporters
The trail is supported by the Capital Area Greenbelt Association (CAGA). CAGA is an all-volunteer, non-profit 501(c)(3) charitable corporation created to act as a liaison between all concerned parties, and to organize and plan the continued stewardship of the Capital Area Greenbelt trail. The trail is not owned by CAGA, but rather by five municipalities and Dauphin County. The five municipalities include: the city of Harrisburg, Swatara township, Paxtang borough, Penbrook borough, and Susquehanna township. The trail also passes through three parcels of land in South Harrisburg that are privately owned. In addition, the following local and community organizations are also supporters of the trail:
• Pennsylvania Department of Transportation
• Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
• Pennsylvania Game Commission
• Pennsylvania Department of General Services
• Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
• Harrisburg Area Community College
Special events
Every summer, the Capital Area Greenbelt Association hosts their main event, the "Tour de Belt." The event consists of a 20-mile bike tour with pleasant sites of the Harrisburg area. It is the largest fundraiser for the Greenbelt. In conjunction with the Hospice of Central Pennsylvania, the Greenbelt also organizes a Butterfly Release annually.
