City Island

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Last Updated: December 5, 2025

City Island is a small island located in the Susquehanna River in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.


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Summary

It is considered a popular destination for both tourists and locals due to its numerous attractions and points of interest. One of the best reasons to visit City Island is its serene location, which offers stunning views of the surrounding river and the city. The island also boasts a number of recreational activities, including mini-golf, baseball, and picnics.

Some of the specific points of interest on City Island include the Harrisburg Senators Stadium, which is the home of the city's minor league baseball team, and the Pride of the Susquehanna, a paddlewheel riverboat that offers tours and cruises. Visitors can also explore the Pennsylvania National Fire Museum, which showcases the history of firefighting in the state, or take a walk along the Riverfront Park, which is located on the eastern side of the island.

Interesting facts about City Island include its history as a popular location for ferry services between Harrisburg and the surrounding areas. It was also the site of the first airplane flight in the city of Harrisburg in 1911. Today, the island remains an important cultural and recreational hub of the city.

The best time of year to visit City Island is in the summer months, between June and August, when the weather is warm and sunny, and the island's attractions are in full swing. However, visitors can also enjoy the island's activities and events throughout the year, including the annual Kipona festival, which takes place on Labor Day weekend.

       

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Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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