Harrisburg City Council to build riverfront entertainment pavilion

The Harrisburg City Council has approved a grant request that could lead to a new entertainment pavilion in Riverfront Park.

At a city council meeting on Tuesday, a resolution was passed authorizing the submission of a grant application to the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development's Greenways, Trails and Recreation Program.

The grant, if approved, would total $117,228 and would be used to fund a gazebo in Riverfront Park. The proposed location is near 600 N. Front St., next to the Civic Club building near Liberty Street.

The resolution describes the pavilion as a “multi-purpose, open-sided 24×20 pavilion” that “will enable the city to bring a variety of programs and new events to downtown, which will further drive tourism and economic development.”

“The pavilion would be the first and only pavilion in Riverfront Park, which stretches nearly 4 miles along the Capital Area Greenbelt and the Susquehanna River,” the resolution states, adding that it could be used for events and activities such as “fitness classes, arts and crafts workshops, first aid and safety classes, movie nights and more.”

According to the resolution, the grant application requires a 15% local contribution from the city's special events fund.

But this investment would also bring savings to the city in the long run, possibly even in the first year.

The resolution states that Harrisburg typically pays between $17,500 and $21,000 annually to rent temporary stages used at events such as the Ice & Fire Festival, Artsfest and Kipona Festival.

READ MORE: Kipona Event Guide: What to Expect from the Labor Day Weekend Festival in Harrisburg