City approves downtown demolition; new 'green space' construction likely

A new "green space" in Harrisburg is closer to reality after the city approved a demolition plan for multiple downtown buildings at its recent meeting.

The Harrisburg City Council last Thursday approved a demolition bid to remove commercial structures at 1 E. Poplar St., directly across from the Saline County Courthouse.

Mayor John McPeek said the project is overdue, but that now the multiple empty buildings would be down by Nov. 1.

"If these buildings don't come down, they're going to fall down on someone's car one day anyway," McPeek said.

The winning bid of $165,000 was submitted by Earth Services of Benton.

Although the location has housed multiple businesses over the years, City Clerk Terri Jenkins said the city purchased the buildings about a year ago, and the plan is to turn them into an open space for use by the community. This could include landscaping, picnic tables and even a mural. More progress will be made on that project by spring, she said.