Beautiful little park! Lots of trees and vegetation and little paths all around. Some benches to…read moresit on. Two main places where you can get in the creek and it is shallow. A little difficult when crowded because the creek entry points are narrow (single file). There is vegetation blocking access to the rest of the creek. There is a parking lot across Harrisburg Street, a 2 minute walk. There is a well marked crosswalk with a blinking yellow light to alert traffic to stop.

Nice little park along the Greenbelt in Harrisburg. A garden for each of the five senses, plenty of…read morebenches and a nice stream as well.

Absolutely love this park. The trails are clean & wellkept…read more I usually walk my dog here & you can see a bunch of wildlife!

Wildwood Park is a gem tucked just outside the city--and visiting during their Art in the Wild…read moreexhibit makes it even more magical. I went in August 2025, right as 19 different outdoor art installations were scattered along the three-mile loop trail. Each piece was beautifully creative and thought-provoking, and I loved how so many of them used natural materials gathered right from the park itself. It made exploring feel like a treasure hunt--you never knew what unique creation would be waiting around the next bend. The park itself is gorgeous and so well-kept. Trash cans were strategically placed and clearly emptied often, so everything looked clean and inviting. Bathrooms? About as good as you could hope for in a community park--clean enough that I didn't even consider detouring for a gas station stop on the way home (and that's saying something). Even on a busy Labor Day weekend, parking was easy. With four different lots, I never felt stressed about finding a spot. I also noticed a pavilion by the Nature Center--there was a baby shower happening while I was there, which seems like the perfect use of the space. Speaking of the Nature Center: it's bigger than you'd expect and doubles as a gift shop and interactive learning spot. There are activities for kids, friendly staff, and my personal favorite--a birdwatching corner with huge windows and binoculars set up so you can spy on the feeders outside. Honestly, I could've sat there all day. The trails are paved, easy, and family-friendly. I saw strollers rolling, little ones running ahead, and older folks carefully strolling with canes. It's accessible, peaceful, and filled with the simple beauty of wetlands, wildlife, and woodlands. Wildwood Park is free, beautiful, and absolutely worth the trip. Pack a picnic, bring your walking shoes, and give yourself time to wander, wonder, and maybe even spot some art in the wild.

One of my favorite trails in the Harrisburg area! Riverfront Park is a beautiful, well-kept place…read moreto get outside and enjoy some time along the river. The trail is paved and easy to walk or bike A great way to bike uptown or downtown while enjoying the river views A great spot to watch the sunset Plenty of benches along the way to sit and relax The park and trail are well maintained It's a great place for a walk, bike ride, a relaxing evening, or simply enjoying the views. Definitely one of my favorite places in the area to get some fresh air.

For the Stage at Riverfront Park 1 out of 5 for my…read moreexperience because I want something done bc words can't do justice for how poorly handled it was... 5 out of 5 for venue experience I am incredibly disappointed by what I witnessed at the Riverfront Park Stage. This wasn't even about my own experience--it was about a front row experience to watching a patron being treated with a complete lack of professionalism and compassion. A man approached security to ask about a family member who is disabled, uses a cane, and cannot stand for long periods of time. The security line stretched for what appeared to be hundreds of yards, so he politely asked if there was an ADA entrance or any accommodations available. He also explained that they had tried calling earlier in the day--twice--but never received an answer. The security manager (he was wearing a red polo that said such), Mitch, is what I was told his name was by another employee, immediately dismissed him, raised his voice and stating there was nothing they could do, and got verbally aggressive. The patron calmly suggested that, if no accommodations were available, that information should at least be posted on the website so disabled guests know what to expect before arriving. Mitch said that the man was raising his voice, he was not. At no point did I witness this man become aggressive, raise his voice, or act disrespectfully. In fact, many people standing in line around me commented that he remained calm throughout the interaction. Despite this, the security manager accused him of "mouthing off" and being aggressive, which simply was not what happened. It was the manager who escalated the situation while refusing to take any responsibility or show any empathy. Whether or not accommodations were available isn't even the biggest issue. The way this patron was treated for asking a reasonable question about accessibility was unacceptable. A manager, especially one representing guest SAFETY and customer service, should know how to de-escalate situations, communicate respectfully, and treat every guest with dignity--particularly when the concern involves someone with a disability. I sincerely hope Riverfront Park reviews how its security management interacts with the public and ensures staff are better trained in professionalism, customer service, and handling accessibility concerns. What I witnessed left a very negative impression and is not how anyone should be treated. Please place information on the website about ADA accessibility, please consider adding an ADA gate, and please address your "security's" behavior.

Great little park. They have a playground, covered picnic tables, basketball court, walking trail…read moreand baseball fields. Ample parking, just off of Derry Street. Amazing place to just pull up a chair and read on your lunch break!

Great little park off of Derry with 2 baseball fields, a basketball court and a grassy area…read moredesignated to walk your dog.

Lovely quiet early afternoon walk on City Island, not too hot or humid. I usually walk around the…read moreisland's 1.5 mile path for at least three miles. During the week and early the best time to get space to park. The Carousel ride is open today Fridays for the weekend during the summer. Miniature golf always seems to be open and busy but I do see Mom's with their kids on the City Island playground.

It had been years since I last walked around City Island, but I have vivid memories of what it used…read moreto feel like -- beautiful, lively, full of people walking, biking, walking their dogs, and enjoying a well-maintained playground and open spaces. Returning recently felt less like revisiting an old favorite and more like realizing how much something you care about has changed... and not for the better. The disappointment started as soon as I pulled into the parking lot. Deep potholes, chunks of scraped-up blacktop piled near the stairs, and metal crowd-control barriers scattered throughout the lot gave an immediate sense that things weren't quite right. I fully understand that it's winter in Central PA -- snow, salt, and weather take their toll -- so I wasn't expecting perfection. But this felt like more than seasonal wear and tear. It felt like neglect. Aside from the stadium -- which stands tall, clean, and well-maintained even in the middle of winter -- much of the rest of the island looks forgotten. And this isn't just a "winter off-season" issue. The more I walked, the more signs of long-term neglect became clear: peeling paint, rusting structures, broken or deteriorating features that appear to have been left untouched for years. What started as mild disappointment turned into genuine sadness as I compared what I was seeing to photos I have from visits many years ago, when the island felt welcoming, cared for, and full of pride. As a Central PA native, it's difficult to see such a beautiful and potentially vibrant space in this condition -- especially one that represents our state's capital to visitors. City Island should be a showcase destination, and right now it feels like a missed opportunity. There seem to be so many possibilities for community involvement -- volunteer projects, partnerships with local organizations, youth programs -- to help restore and maintain the island. For whatever reason, it doesn't appear that those efforts are happening, and that's disappointing. The views of the river and the city skyline remain beautiful, as always -- as long as you keep your focus outward rather than on the island itself. I truly hope to see City Island revived and restored to the welcoming, vibrant place I remember.

I saw many Canada geese at the lake today. Lots of bird droppings on the walking path…read more It looks like the city added more lighting around the northern end of the lake, making early evening walks even safer and more secure.

4/30/26 Beautiful views all around--gorgeous lake w/fountain sculpture on 1 side & spray fountains…read moreon the other. Azaleas & flowering princess trees in bloom. Docile Canada Geese feeding lakeside. Picturesque neighborhood of lake-facing homes 1 street over w/many English style cottages w/stone or brick facades & shaker shingle roofs. Covered concert stage & uncovered bench seating is ready for summer concert season. Center bridge could use new paint on rails. Picnic tables would be nice addition, but then it might require more maintenance to keep area trash-free. Street parking is available on either side of lake.

Ever since we found out my trunk bike carrier works on our SUV late this summer, we've fervently…read moreexplored biking trails around the Harrisburg area before the season's over.  One of the first things that came to mind would of course be the Capital Area Greenbelt.  It's a 23 mile route interconnecting paved paths, crushed-stone trails, and public roads.  We've only explored 3 different segments of the Greenbelt.   The first is City Island and Riverfront Park. Start by looping around the small island which is less than a mile but think of it as a warm up. You also get to see some touristy highlights such as the Pride of the Susquehanna Riverboat, Water Golf, and City Island Railroad.  Then cross the picturesque Walnut Street Bridge, turn left on to my favorite segment so far, the Riverfront Park. This paved segment runs for 3 miles alongside the Susquehanna River all the way to Vaughn St. You also have an option to take the path directly along the river or the path along the green/street.  Along the way you get to see many sculptures and historic landmarks. Some highlights include State Street, Governor's Mansion, Peace Garden, and Sunken Garden. And if you're open to excursions, take detours and check out the Capitol Complex and Italian Lake. The second segment we've been frequenting without realizing it's part of the Greenbelt - Wildwood Park. I've had a 5-star review on it. It's one of  my favorite parks in the Harrisburg area.  I've read that there's a new 1.5 mile segment connecting from Wildwood Park to Fort Hunter.  I can't wait to check that out! The third segment we just tried today, the Andrea Ave Spur.  It's not part of the main loop but still part of the Greenbelt. I guess you can think of it as an extension, much like the Fort Hunter segment.  This one starts out on a crushed-stone path but soon turns into a fully paved trail. It's only 2.3 miles to the main loop near the Farm Show complex, but it's hilly and punishing at times. This is a different experience than, say, a rail trail which is more secluded and allows you to be soaked with nature.  Here you do not completely leave civilization. Another negative aspect is that many sections insolve public roads.  I'm not sure I should venture the southeast portion of the Greenbelt, based on the map...

1. Route / Trail closed at the Riverfront Office Center (ROC) May 2024 for extended future…read more 2. Area from 581 bridge to ROC is lined with a huge homeless encampment. 3. Paved portion in Susquehanna Township along River has numerous potholes and speed bumps from tree roots. Pavement in terrible condition 4. Path along River is too narrow for walkers and bikers to safely share. 5. Not a continuous trail. There are gaps near the Civil War museum the trail uses city streets.

Large park by the Harrisburg Friendship YMCA (not too far from Costco). It can be tricky to find…read morewhere exactly to enter on Apple Maps (it'll keep routing you to the YMCA building up front). Nice free pickleball courts, large open areas and a little outdoor amphitheater.

Brightbill Park is an amazing park to spend an afternoon at. It's very lively, with baseball,…read morebasketball, tennis, and pickleball all happening at the same time. I grew up at the summer camp that was hosted here about 20 ish years ago. I love this park! The new playground area looks a bit bland, and the pickleball courts are almost always full, but I love it! They should strongly consider expanding the tennis/pickleball courts to increase the amount of play that can happen at Brightbill. My only real concern is the high schoolers being dangerous in the parking lots. I've experienced multiple incidents where there was reckless driving involved at Brightbill for the new "secret assassin" trend going around.