Harrisburg Young Professionals (HYP) today announced during a press conference overlooking State Street that work has been successfully completed on its State Street Beautification Project.
Ground was broken early Monday morning with work culminating this afternoon. The completed project features native, low maintenance, robust and aesthetically pleasing plantings which enhance the city's appearance and the vista from the west capitol steps to the Susquehanna River.
Led by the efforts of HYP President Meron Yemane and City Beautification Committee Chairs Matthew Crocker and Colleen Smith, the organization began raising the necessary $30,000 in funds in early August to revamp the median on State Street between First and Third Streets.
“We were committed to seeing this project through in order to showcase the true beauty of our city,” said HYP President Meron Yemane. “We’re extremely pleased with the end result, but couldn’t have done it without the generosity and support of our partners, private and public, and we sincerely thank them.”
The Outdoor Touch landscaping acted as the lead contractor on the project and provided invaluable insight and expertise. “We couldn’t have asked for anyone more dedicated to our cause or patient with our requests as The Outdoor Touch,” said City Beautification Chair Matthew Crocker. “Their involvement was key to State Street.”
In addition, Raudenbush Engineering, Inc. designed the concept of the revitalized median and Kinsley Construction completed on-site excavation. Pennsy Supply helped curtail costs by donating supplies and providing discounted material purchases.
The combination of local businesses and private citizens who donated the monies to fund the project include; Platinum Donors: PNC Bank, WCI Partners, TREC Grant, Susquehanna Bank, First National Bank and Buchanan Ingersoll and Rooney; Gold Donors: JEM Group and Members 1st Federal Credit Union; Silver Donors: Greenlee Partners, Republican State Committee, Novak Strategic Advisors, Long Nyquist and Associates, Quantum Communications, Dorothy Mott, Schmidt Kramer, Roxbury News, the Fire House Restaurant, William and Susannah Rothman and the Broadband Cable Association; Bronze Donors: LaTorre Communications, Brickbox Enterprises, Ltd., Community Networking Resources, Dr. Raymond Grandon, MD and the Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association.
Since 1998, HYP and its partners have led several efforts to increase the aesthetic appeal of the city, including biannual maintenance of the median on Forster Street, cleanup events throughout Harrisburg's Mid-Town and Uptown Districts removing nearly 12 tons of waste, and cleanup and plantings in the Sunken Gardens to replace what was damaged during flooding in 2011. In addition this fall, HYP partnered with the "Let's Refresh City Island" beautification initiative to help coordinate and oversee a public clean-up City Island by more than 100 volunteers in a single day.
Thank you for your support!