Feature Stories
Among the gaming grants approved at their April 15 meeting, Dauphin County Commissioners approved a grant of $75,000 to the Capital Area Greenbelt Association (CAGA) for the acquisition of a 1.3-acre tract and a 0.4-acre right-of-way from Pennsy Supply to relocate the Greenbelt trail in South Harrisburg.
The relocation of the trail was necessitated by the closure in 2023 of the section of the Greenbelt that took users along the riverfront south of the PennDOT building, on private land that is being redeveloped as housing for veterans, homeless, and critical needs first responders.
The grant will allow the Greenbelt Association to establish a new trail that will take users from the riverfront, up Sycamore Street, then looping under Sycamore Street to a proposed trail that will follow former 9th Street, adjacent to the Amiricle4Sure property, where the trail will rejoin the historic trail route parallel to Cameron Street.
~ CAGA President Doug Hill
CAGA President Doug Hill both thanked and praised the Commissioners for their support of the property acquisition. “The grant is important funding in our effort to Buckle the Belt, providing a permanent, safe, and attractive alternative to the detour Greenbelt users now face in mixing with traffic on heavily travelled Cameron Street.” Hill says CAGA has spent many months working with city, county, and state officials to develop a safer alternative for Greenbelt users.
The proposed rerouting won’t be accomplished until at least 2027. Until then, Greenbelt users are asked to follow the temporary detours caused by both the closing of the original trail and the ongoing Cameron Street construction relating to the widening of Interstate 83.
