The City of Harrisburg is selling McCormick's Island for $110,000 to the Central PA Conservancy. The new buyers were kind enough to invite me and CBS 21 News Photojournalist Garth Millen along for a tour of the recently-acquired 100-acre island in the Susquehanna River...
Here we are loading up onto a small boat beneath the Interstate 81 bridge. The bridge actually crosses the northern-most tip of the Island. Check it out next time you cross shores.
With the river levels pretty low these days, we had to cruise down river about three-quarters-of-a-mile to reach an access on the island.
Garth takes some video along the way. On our 20-minute trip, we spotted several snapping turtles relaxing on river rocks. McCormick's Island is also neighbor to Wade Island, known for hosting several species of endangered birds.
Look!... There's Mayor Reed in a Kayak!... Just kidding.
We arrive on the island, towards the southern tip. On the right is Jonathan, our boat operator. Garth thinks... 'Hey, my mom would love those purple flowers!"
One of the the things you'll notice on the island is the amount of litter... And I mean some OLD stuff. I think I was twelve when they stopped putting those black plastic bottoms on 2-liter soda bottles!
The Conservancy says most of the trash isn't actually left by people visiting McCormick's Island. Instead, bottles like these are carried downstream by flood waters. Already, the Conservancy members have removed several boat loads of garbage from the island.
Here is the work that's being done to blaze a new walking trail on the island. Much of the work is being headed up by 18-year-old David Heath, a recent Carlisle High School graduate. He plans to attend Penn State University in the Fall, majoring in Civil Engineering. he says he'd like to use his education to help improve McCormick's Island.
Thanks for checking in... Until next time... -- Mike
