Lighten Up Harrisburg is a collaboration between the Historic Harrisburg Association, Downtown Improvement District, project founder Matthew Krupp, Friends of Midtown, Penn National Insurance, Community Historic Preservation Fund, City of Harrisburg, and many other community businesses, organizations and leaders.

With the City of Harrisburg unable to devote financial resources to much needed infrastructure projects, Lighten Up Harrisburg hopes to fill the void.  The goal of the project is to raise funds from partner organizations, area businesses, and community members to help relight the historic Walnut Street Bridge.  This landmark is a glimmer of hope to the community that there is still light even in our darkest days.

The Walnut Street Bridge also known as The People's Bridge, is a truss bridge that spans the Susquehanna River in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Built by the Phoenix Bridge Company in 1890, it is the oldest remaining bridge connecting Harrisburg's downtown and Riverfront Park with City Island. Since flooding in 1996 collapsed sections of the western span, it no longer connects to the West Shore.

The bridge was built to break the toll monopoly enjoyed by the neighboring Camelback Bridge (now the Market Street Bridge). The Walnut Street Bridge was closed to motor vehicles and converted to a pedestrian and bikeway link to City Island after the 1972 Hurricane Agnes flood. The eastern span of the bridge is outlined in lights which, along with the City Island facilities, create a dynamic visual effect at night. The 2,801 foot (854 m) span is one of the longest pedestrian bridges in the world. The conversion to pedestrian use gave the bridge a new purpose and it is used by over a million visitors, tourists and residents annually. The bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972 and is also recognized as a Historic Civil Engineering Landmark.

Although the Walnut Street Bridge is the primary focus of the collaborative, the group hopes to move to much needed lighting needs throughout the City of Harrisburg.  Across our great city, there are downed street lights, burnt out bulbs, and numerous blind spots where crime and blight occur.  This collaboration is determined to step up and attack these infrastructure issues.

Please consider donating today to help Historic Harrisburg is our partners create a better community for those who work, live, and visit Harrisburg.  Donate today! Now is the time for our community to take action.

Phase One - Relight the Walnut Street Bridge

Fundraising Goal - $4,700.00

Phase Two - Replace street lights and burnt bulbs throughout the City of Harrisburg

 Fundraising Goal - TBD

 Phase Three - Work with the City of Harrisburg to identify areas where street lights are needed to help prevent blight and crime

 Fundraising Goal - TBD

Contributions can also be made out mailed to:

Historic Harrisburg Association

Lighten Up Harrisburg

PO Box 1843

Harrisburg, PA 17105-184

Contributions are tax-deductible as allowed by law

To recommend your own projects or to volunteer to serve on the committee, please email us at  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call us at 717-233-4646.

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