Capital Area Greenbelt

Capital Area Greenbelt
Capital Area Greenbelt
Length	20 mi (32 km)
Location	Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Use	Hiking, biking, cross country skiing and fishing
Grade	up to 10%
Difficulty	Easy to Moderate
Season	Dawn to dusk, year-round
Sights	Susquehanna River, Blue Ridge Mountains, and local parks and attractions
Hazards	Traffic (at road crossings)
Surface	Asphalt, concrete, crushed stone
Website	http://caga.org/
Trail map
	Legend

Last updated July 13, 2023

The Capital Area Greenbelt is a looping trail located in the area of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. This 20-mile loop around Pennsylvania's capital city provides visitors and tourists with opportunities to hike, ride bicycles, skate, jog, fish, walk their dogs, spot rare birds, learn about history, enjoy native flora and fauna, and appreciate nature. While parts of the trail are shared with roads, most of the loop is a dedicated path. The Trail, as it is commonly referred to by locals, passes along the Susquehanna River through Reservoir Park, Riverfront Park, Five Senses Garden, and Wildwood Park and Nature Center. In addition to parks, the Capital Area Greenbelt passes alongside attractions including the grave site of John Harris Sr. (the namesake of the city of Harrisburg), the Governor's Mansion, Fort Hunter, Harrisburg State Hospital, and the National Civil War Museum.

Historical development

Historical significance

In the early 1900s, many thought Harrisburg to be an unpleasant place to live. Many of the roads were unpaved, the lack of a garbage collection service caused trash to pile up along the sides of the river, and the sewer systems dumped waste directly into the Susquehanna River. Water from the river was being used as tap water at the time, resulting in a number of cases of typhoid.^[1]

Mira Lloyd Dock, a botanist who was born in Harrisburg, had just returned from Europe with a new vision for how the city could be improved.^[2] 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 were the beginnings of what would become the Greenbelt. In the first two decades after the project was started, there was immense support and progress. Some early development included a carriage road along Parkway Creek (also called Paxtang Tributary), a tributary to Spring Creek in Paxtang.^[3]^[4] However, by the 1920s, the project was abandoned and never fully realized, partly because of the migration of city residents to the suburbs which devastated the city budget. Although most of the parkway was closed, causing it to fall into disuse and disrepair, some sections became parkways for cars. Another part of the trail, constituting less than one mile, was occupied by railroad tracks for the South Harrisburg Steel Mill.

Trail's history and evolution

The Capital Area Greenbelt Association (CAGA) was founded in 1990 to restore completed sections of the green-way. The city of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 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 almost fully completed. Today, the association continues to improve the trail through new safety measures and maintenance. Donation money and dedicated volunteers provide the majority of support for the association.

Trail development

Design and construction

About 60% of the originally designed parkway was constructed according to the primary plan. 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 recently 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 and just off the trail. There is access to the trail at several popular spots where ample parking is available. These spots include City Island, the Five Senses Garden,^[5] and the campus of Harrisburg Area Community College (HACC). 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 ten kiosks located throughout the trail that provide users with current and historical information. Water fountains are located along the riverfront area. Garbage is generally "carry-in, carry-out," however there are limited receptacles along the trail. Most of the trail has mile markers.

Mountain Bike Trails

On October 29th, 2016 the Parkway Trail System of mountain bike trails was officially opened.^[6] All the trails start and end off of the Capital Area Greenbelt. The three primary areas for the mountain bike trails are Cameron Parkway, Dock Woods, and Paxtang Parkway. The trails have varying levels of difficulty and are rated on the green, blue and black system. There are currently 7 miles of trails which will be expanded to 10 miles over time.

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. It was created to act as a liaison between all concerned parties, with the aim of organizing and planning 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:

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 passing a number of sites in Harrisburg area. It is the largest fundraiser for the Greenbelt. CAGA also organizes a Butterfly Release each year, in conjunction with the Hospice of Central Pennsylvania.

Tour de Belt

Related Research Articles

Harrisburg is the capital city of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the seat of Dauphin County. With a population of 50,135 as of 2021, Harrisburg is the ninth-largest city and 15th-largest municipality in Pennsylvania. Harrisburg is situated on the east bank of the Susquehanna River. It is the larger principal city of the Harrisburg–Carlisle metropolitan statistical area, also known as the Susquehanna Valley, which had a population of 591,712 as of 2020, making it the fourth-most populous metropolitan area in Pennsylvania after the Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Lehigh Valley metropolitan areas.

Dauphin County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 286,401. The county seat and the largest city is Harrisburg, Pennsylvania's state capital and ninth largest city. The county was created on March 4, 1785, from part of Lancaster County and was named after Louis Joseph, Dauphin of France, the first son of King Louis XVI.

Lower Paxton Township is a township of the second class in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 53,501 at the 2020 census. It is the most populous municipality in Dauphin County, exceeding that of Harrisburg, the state capital, and the 13th most populated municipality in the state.

Lower Swatara Township is a township in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 9,557 at the 2020 census. Harrisburg International Airport and Penn State Harrisburg are located within the township. It shares a ZIP Code with the nearby borough of Middletown, and all locations in the township have Middletown addresses.

Paxtang is a borough in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, United States. As of the 2020 census it had a population of 1,640. The borough is a suburb of Harrisburg and is one of the earliest colonial settlements in South Central Pennsylvania.

Susquehanna Township is a township in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 26,736 at the time of the 2020 census. This represents a 9.8% increase from the 2000 census count of 21,895. Susquehanna Township has the postal ZIP codes 17109 and 17110, which maintain the Harrisburg place name designation. The township is a suburb of Harrisburg and is connected to Marysville by the Rockville Bridge, the world's longest stone-arch rail bridge at the time of its completion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greenway (landscape)</span> Shared-use path or linear park with vegetation

A greenway is usually a shared-use path along a strip of undeveloped land, in an urban or rural area, set aside for recreational use or environmental protection. Greenways are frequently created out of disused railways, canal towpaths, utility company rights of way, or derelict industrial land. Greenways can also be linear parks, and can serve as wildlife corridors. The path's surface may be paved and often serves multiple users: walkers, runners, bicyclists, skaters and hikers. A characteristic of greenways, as defined by the European Greenways Association, is "ease of passage": that is that they have "either low or zero gradient", so that they can be used by all "types of users, including mobility impaired people".

Uptown is a section of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania located North of the Midtown and Downtown neighborhoods.

South Harrisburg is an area of, and neighborhood within, the city of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in the United States.

Downtown Harrisburg is the central core neighborhood, business and government center which surrounds the focal point of Market Square, and serves as the regional center for the greater metropolitan area of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, United States.

The Capital Beltway is a beltway surrounding Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is co-designated as Interstate 81 (I-81), I-83, U.S. Route 11 (US 11), US 322, and Pennsylvania Route 581 (PA 581) at various locations along the route. The beltway is primarily located in the suburbs of Harrisburg on both sides of the Susquehanna River; however, part of its southern leg passes along the southern edge of downtown. The southern section of the highway is named the Harrisburg Expressway. Officially designated in 1997, the Beltway is an assemblage of several freeways built over the preceding 45 years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paxton Creek</span> River in Pennsylvania, United States

Paxton Creek is a 13.9-mile-long (22.4 km) tributary of the Susquehanna River in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania in the United States.

The history of Harrisburg, the state capital of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, has played a key role in the development of the nation's industrial history from its origins as a trading outpost to the present. Harrisburg has played a critical role in American history during the Westward Migration, the American Civil War, and the Industrial Revolution. For part of the 19th century, the building of the Pennsylvania Canal and later the Pennsylvania Railroad allowed Harrisburg to become one of the most industrialized cities in the Northeast.

Reservoir Park is the oldest and largest municipal public park in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and occupies approximately 85 acres (340,000 m²) in the Allison Hill neighborhood of the city. Reservoir Park is also home to the National Civil War Museum and provides the setting for many of Harrisburg's most popular outdoor festivals and performances. The park is part of the Capital Area Greenbelt, a 20-mile (32 km) greenway surrounding portions of the city.

Paxtang Park is a current trailhead area in East Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and Paxtang, Pennsylvania, and former 40-acre (160,000 m²) trolley park. It originally existed from 1823 to 1929 between Derry Street and Paxton Street along Spring Creek and has reopened since 2020. The original park contained two roller coasters, the Coaster Flyer and the Jack Rabbit.

Riverfront Park is a public park in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania that spans beside the Susquehanna River.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">40-Mile Loop</span> Multi-use trail in Portland, Oregon, United States

The 40-Mile Loop is a partially completed greenway trail around and through Portland in the U.S. state of Oregon. It was proposed in 1903 by the Olmsted Brothers architecture firm as part of the development of Forest Park. One greenway expert calls it "one of the most creative and resourceful greenway projects in the country."

Clive Greenbelt Trail is an 11.3 miles (18.2 km) urban recreational trail in Clive, Iowa and forms part of the Central Iowa Trails network. This very busy recreational trail runs through Polk and Dallas Counties in Iowa. It is a curvy, paved asphalt and concrete trail.

Wildwood Park is a public park and nature sanctuary in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The 229 acre park is known for its 90-acre shallow lake with over 6 miles of trails and mile-long boardwalk over the wetlands. The park is located within the city limits of Harrisburg; however, it is administered and maintained by the Dauphin County Parks and Recreation Department. Wildwood Park runs in line with Paxton Creek, a tributary of the Susquehanna River, on the northern side of Harrisburg and adjacent to the main campus of HACC, Central Pennsylvania's Community College. Paxton Creek feeds into the lake, which comprises 60% of the Park. A section of the old Pennsylvania Canal runs parallel to the western trail. The remainder of the park is mixed deciduous forest, and an artificial meadow overlooks the eastern side of the lake. Wildwood Park is also part of the Capital Area Greenbelt.

Spring Creek is a 6.0-mile-long (9.7 km) tributary of the Susquehanna River in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, in the United States.

References

↑ "History | Capital Area Greenbelt Association". Capital Area Greenbelt Association. Retrieved 2018-04-09.
↑ Wilson, William H. (October 1975). ""More Almost than the Men": Mira Lloyd Dock and the Beautification of Harrisburg". The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography. University of Pennsylvania Press. 99 (4): 490–499. JSTOR 20091005.
↑ Shepler, Scott; Moses, Todd (December 2015). "Environmental Restoration in the Patan Parkway: A Preliminary Action Plan" (PDF). Capital Area Greenbelt Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 May 2016.
↑ Urie, Daniel (3 October 2022). "Harrisburg receives more than $2M in grants for Greenbelt restoration, development of Chutes and Ladders Playground, more". The Patriot-News (Penn Live). Archived from the original on 27 November 2022.
↑ "Five Senses Garden". Capital Area Greenbelt Association. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
↑ "Parkway Trail System Open". www.sambabiker.com. Retrieved 2017-06-07.

"About the Capital Area Greenbelt". Capital Area Greenbelt Association. 2006. Retrieved 2006-12-28.

External links

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[1] "History | Capital Area Greenbelt Association". Capital Area Greenbelt Association. Retrieved 2018-04-09.

[Wilson1975-2] Wilson, William H. (October 1975). ""More Almost than the Men": Mira Lloyd Dock and the Beautification of Harrisburg". The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography. University of Pennsylvania Press. 99 (4): 490–499. JSTOR 20091005.

[3] Shepler, Scott; Moses, Todd (December 2015). "Environmental Restoration in the Patan Parkway: A Preliminary Action Plan" (PDF). Capital Area Greenbelt Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 May 2016.

[4] Urie, Daniel (3 October 2022). "Harrisburg receives more than $2M in grants for Greenbelt restoration, development of Chutes and Ladders Playground, more". The Patriot-News (Penn Live). Archived from the original on 27 November 2022.

[FiveSenses-5] "Five Senses Garden". Capital Area Greenbelt Association. Retrieved 10 June 2020.

[6] "Parkway Trail System Open". www.sambabiker.com. Retrieved 2017-06-07.

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