Allison Hill Art Garden Hopes to Sow Seeds of Change

Over the past several years, the corner of Mulberry and Crescent Streets in Harrisburg’s Allison Hill neighborhood has been a lot of different things. 

“A laundry mat – a pizzeria, but in the last five years it was abandoned and dangerous,” said Duane Shearer, Executive Director of Danzante.


Danzante has adopted the vacant lot for the construction of something entirely new; an art garden.

“Our idea is get it started, and let the neighborhood own it,” said Shearer.

Danzante took over the vacant six lots a few months ago and with the help of school groups have been cleaning up the lot, to make room for the new project.

Reshon Ross, said “It’s nice, there is nothing else you can do – you clean it up and that’s it.”

In light of recent violence, including the murder of an 18-year-old Harrisburg teen in the same neighborhood last week, Shearer hopes the Art Garden will create a positive change for the community.

He said by removing negative or blighted areas creates something positive, “A negative view of the neighborhood generally leads to negative behavior.”

Rock by rock, and boulder by boulder, Danzante students helped clean up the lot on Monday in 90 degree heat.

“There is a lot of violence going on – a lot of shootings,” said 14-year-old Qadirah Wiliiams.  She said she is proud of being a part of the Art Garden installation. 

She added, “To me it will make a change in our neighborhood so when we walk down the streets we can look at something nice instead of all this trash.”

The Art Garden is expected to be complete by the end of the summer.

Danzante is looking for materials or volunteers to assist in the project.

For more information on the Art Garden and how you can volunteer, please click on the Danzante website to learn more.