FROM MAYOR DERICK WENCK: GETTING THROUGH IT TOGETHER

Provided by Mayor Derick Wenck

In 2019, the City of Harrisburg made the decision to fund and build a roundabout at the intersection of Cliff Avenue and Willow Street. That process is nearing completion as we’re set to open the roundabout to through traffic in just a few short months! A roundabout will improve overall traffic in the nearby corridors and reduce congestion and improve efficiency during both peak hours and other times of the day. Sure, the construction has been nothing short of a headache for all of us. Yet an infrastructure project of this size is another mark of success in the community. We regularly post informational updates online and via text message. Visit www.harrisburgroundabout.com for the latest.

Other improvements have included the installation of new culverts and a shoulder expansion on Cliff Avenue near the Sioux Valley Coop; we paved 272nd Street from Highway 115 to Cliff Avenue; the sewer line expansion has connected the Mills Creek Development (northwest corner of town) to the water reclamation facility, and met some long overdue accessibility needs with sidewalk additions and improvements around town. These accomplishments also fulfill initiatives within the Master Transportation Plan of improving our network for future growth.

The work at Central Park also continues. The 9-hole disc golf course has seen an increase in usage. You might see a large scrape in the ground while you’re out walking – we’re landscaping for water runoff that should fill in as a creek bed over time. Keep an eye out for city-sponsored tournaments coming soon. Students from the HHS Home Builders Academy constructed and donated a concession building located at baseball fields B and C that was installed in 2022. Generous donations from the Harrisburg Community Foundation helped build a separate new concession building with an announcer booth on the second level.

The vision is to activate Central Park through core values of community, health and wellness, park stewardship, and inclusiveness to create a place to play for Harrisburg. I encourage you to review the master plan at www.harrisburgsd.gov, or attend a Parks, Rec, & Forestry Board meeting where regular discussion takes place to maintain momentum on planning and execution.

There are many recreational opportunities in our area, especially in the spring and summer. Seeing so many kids and adults of all ages outside proves we have an active and vibrant community. As we enter fall and winter, be sure to take a look at the latest Community Activity Guide. The Parks & Rec team is regularly adding new programs and events for both indoor and outdoor settings. Text the word REC to 605-777-0110 for the most up-to-date offerings.

School is back in session, traffic will increase, congestion will abound, changes will happen … and we’re all going to get through it together. Your patience through the last several months has been very appreciated! Be well.

In 2019, the City of Harrisburg made the decision to fund and build a roundabout at the intersection of Cliff Avenue and Willow Street. That process is nearing completion as we’re set to open the roundabout to through traffic in just a few short months! A roundabout will improve overall traffic in the nearby corridors and reduce congestion and improve efficiency during both peak hours and other times of the day. Sure, the construction has been nothing short of a headache for all of us. Yet an infrastructure project of this size is another mark of success in the community. We regularly post informational updates online and via text message. Visit www.harrisburgroundabout.com for the latest.

In 2019, the City of Harrisburg made the decision to fund and build a roundabout at the intersection of Cliff Avenue and Willow Street. That process is nearing completion as we’re set to open the roundabout to through traffic in just a few short months! A roundabout will improve overall traffic in the nearby corridors and reduce congestion and improve efficiency during both peak hours and other times of the day. Sure, the construction has been nothing short of a headache for all of us. Yet an infrastructure project of this size is another mark of success in the community. We regularly post informational updates online and via text message. Visit www.harrisburgroundabout.com for the latest.