2024 Summer Project

What is the Summer Project?

South Allison Hill is one of Harrisburg’s most neglected and deteriorating neighborhoods with over half the population living in poverty.  It has been neglected for years and is in dire need of reinvestment of funds, resources, and time to create a suitable living environment for the people of Allison Hill.  Our Summer Project was birthed out of our desire to serve our residents by preventing & eliminating slums and helping provide safer and sanitary living conditions as well as reduce crime opportunity areas. Every summer an army of hope-filled volunteers flood the streets of our beloved neighborhood, Allison Hill.  We do this through removing litter & dump sites, basic landscaping including planter boxes & weed prevention, and minor exterior home repairs.  

The Vision for our 2024 Summer Project (June 2nd - 29th):

Our goal for 2024 is to remove a projected 250,000 pounds of trash in a 23-block area of Allison Hill (from Derry St. to Market St., 13th St. to 17th st.) Secure and install crime prevention measures at abandoned buildings; fencing to prevent further illegal dumping of materials and drug/criminal activity. Beautify walkways; remove undesirable vegetation, install flowers and mulch, repair 5 residential porches, and serve a total of approximately 626 families (1565-3130 people) through all of these activities. The Love the Hill Summer Project 2024 implementation phase will take place during a 4-week period from June 2nd - 29th. This will be year 8 of a 10-year plan to clean up all of Allison Hill by August of 2026 (see map). 

Our efforts over the last 7 years include:

• Mobilizing 4,523 volunteers
• Servicing 2,066 properties
• Repairing 18 porches 
• Removing 2,605,320 pounds of trash
• Installing 314 planter boxes
• Boarding up 128 abandoned structures
• Establishing 3 community gardens as part of our lot reclamation efforts
• Recovering an abandoned street full of trash and debris