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Eligibility

Eligible Applicants

  • Nonprofits (501c3 or fiscal sponsorship)
  • Small businesses (for public-facing improvements)
  • Informal resident groups (with a fiscal/administrative sponsor)
  • Schools or youth groups (with adults or school district oversight)

Eligible Project Types

Projects must be temporary or semi-permanent, low-cost improvements that enhance the vibrancy and community connection to downtown Harrisburg.

IMPORTANT: All projects must be done in consultation with the City of Harrisburg to ensure appropriate permissions, approvals, engineering and safety measures are followed.

Eligible Projects include:

  • Sidewalk and building murals
  • Alley beautification (murals, hanging art, lighting, street furniture, etc.)
  • Painted curb extensions, crosswalk art, or intersection murals. These types of projects may incur additional unfunded design/engineering/support costs. The city or applicant must agree to cover these costs prior executing an award.
  • Parklets or street seating
  • Temporary pedestrian plazas
  • Converting vacant lots into community activity space
  • Artistic wayfinding signage or neighborhood identity markers
  • Pop-up bike lanes or mobility improvements (may only be done for half-day up to two weeks depending on permission to use roadway).
  • Pop-up events/activities
  • Seasonal pop-ups and decorations
  • Window-art for vacant buildings
  • Greening, landscape improvements, and artistic planters
  • Public art installations
  • Tree-wrapping
  • Street furniture, lighting accents, or micro‑placemaking elements

Ineligible Projects include:

  • Permanent capital construction
  • Projects on private property that will not be accessible to the public
  • Routine maintenance (e.g., mowing, trash removal)
  • Projects requiring major utility work or excavation
  • Political or religious messaging
  • Culturally insensitive or profane messaging
  • Projects that are not free and accessible to the public

Eligible Project Locations

  • Public spaces: Projects located on public property or in the public right-of-way require written approval from the City of Harrisburg.
  • Private property: Projects on private property, including sidewalks adjoining private property, must meet one of the following criteria to be eligible:
    • Applicants provide written permission from owner to conduct projects on subject property; or
    • Applicant is the owner of subject property. Owner will sign a project agreement with the funding entity.

Project permissions and ownership will be verified by application reviewers. Applicants must provide a site map, photos, and a simple design concept.

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