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Residents press Harrisburg City Council for bike-trail completion, pond maintenance and safer park access
Summary
Residents urged the Harrisburg City Council to clarify when developer-owned parcels will transfer to the city, finish a planned bike trail around detention ponds and add sidewalks and maintenance after heavy rains caused local overflow and safety concerns.
Residents at a Harrisburg City Council meeting pressed elected officials to finish a planned neighborhood bike trail, improve pedestrian access to Lions Park and address flooding and maintenance at detention ponds. During public comment, neighbors said families and children routinely cut through yards to reach the park and that recent heavy rains caused overflow near Johnson Creek Court.
Chris ***** told the council the East Side of town is "pretty well disconnected from any sort of a bike path trail system" and asked whether the city has a timeline to install the trail around detention ponds and through the neighborhood. Julie Steinbeck, who said she and her husband moved to 817 Johnson Creek Court in May 2022, reported that a large pond overtopped during a heavy June rain, sending water toward Southeastern Drive and flooding yards behind some houses. Heather Stolesmark said she had been told in earlier communications with the developer that the property "was supposed to be turned over to the city last fall," and she asked when that transfer would occur.
City staff responded that the city cannot spend funds on improvements on property it does not yet own and estimated turnover could occur "this fall" or in the spring, depending on final developer work. Staff offered to display the project map referenced by residents at an upcoming meeting so neighbors can see the planned trail and the parcels the city expects to accept. Staff also said existing crosswalk equipment would be relocated as new school and trail infrastructure come online.
Neighbors asked staff to prioritize completing sidewalks and to improve maintenance of access points, such as the North Perry access the residents said was mowed only twice this year. Several speakers emphasized safety for children and the aesthetic impact on neighboring properties.
Next steps recorded in the meeting: staff committed to showing the map at the meeting and to follow up on the timing of property turnover. The council did not take formal action on the public comments during the meeting; related capital or right-of-way purchases were discussed later on the agenda.
