A long-vacant parcel on South Second Street is being reimagined as one of downtown Harrisburg’s newest gathering spaces through a collaboration between Harristown Development Corporation and the Capital Region Economic Development Corporation (CREDC).
Coronet Park, a 3,300-square-foot pocket park and event venue located between Crowne Plaza and The Menaker near Market Square, is currently under construction and scheduled for completion in early 2026. Developed by Harristown Development Corporation with support from a state RACP grant, the $1 million+ project is transforming the former site of the historic Coronet Restaurant into a vibrant, flexible urban space.
Designed to accommodate approximately 100 guests, Coronet Park will feature a performance stage, paved event space for food trucks and receptions, as well as seating and planters that create an inviting green pocket in the heart of downtown. The space is intentionally intimate, ideal for “tiny park concerts,” festivals, and community gatherings that bring residents and visitors together.
That vision will come to life this summer with Tiny Park Concerts, a free outdoor live music series hosted at the UPMC Stage at Coronet Park on the second Friday of each month from May through September. The concerts will spotlight regional musicians while activating the park as a relaxed, community-forward gathering space with rotating food and beverage vendors and an easy way to kick off the weekend downtown.
Adjacent to the park, Denim Coffee is expanding into downtown Harrisburg. As the region’s Certified Economic Development Organization (CEDO), CREDC helped support the broader revitalization of this city block by facilitating financing for Denim Coffee’s new location through a Pennsylvania Catalyst Loan in partnership with LINKBANK. The low-interest financing assisted with equipment purchases and leasehold improvements, positioning the business to serve as a daily anchor alongside future park programming.
Public space and small business growth often go hand in hand. A thoughtfully designed venue creates a destination, while an active storefront sustains energy beyond event nights. Together, they strengthen the fabric of downtown.
Projects like Coronet Park reflect a continued commitment to walkable, experience-driven spaces that enhance quality of life and support economic growth across Cumberland, Dauphin, and Perry counties. As construction progresses toward early 2026 completion, Coronet Park represents more than a new stage and seating area. It signals continued investment in downtown Harrisburg’s future.
And sometimes, the smallest spaces create the biggest impact.
About the Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC
For 140 years, the Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC has served as the region’s catalyst for economic prosperity. The organization combines business, community, and economic development services to enhance the region’s vitality and livability. The Chamber is a five-star accredited chamber through the U.S. Chamber of Commerce—a distinction held by fewer than 1 percent of chambers nationwide. CREDC is the Certified Economic Development Organization (CEDO) approved by the Commonwealth’s Department of Community and Economic Development to perform economic development activities using Pennsylvania’s funding programs in Cumberland, Dauphin, and Perry counties.
