October 30, 2023 |
Photo – Rawlins Downtown Lighting Project map – Courtesy Rawlins DDA Mainstreet
After 11 years of planning, downtown Rawlins is getting upgraded lighting.
The Rawlins Downtown Development Authority Mainstreet has been working on a project to provide additional lighting for downtown businesses since 2012. DDA Mainstreet Director Pam Thayer said the Downtown Light Project will benefit the entire city.
Thayer said the idea for increased downtown lighting came during 2010, when Rawlins hosted the U.S. capitol Christmas tree. The DDA Mainstreet director said people enjoyed the extra lights the city installed to display the 65-foot tall Engleman Spruce. Thayer said the increased illumination made downtown Rawlins more noticeable.
Thayer said when the project began in 2012, the idea was to place solar powered lights on top of the downtown buildings. The DDA Mainstreet director said various challenges required those plans to change.
Thayer also said rising supply costs due to COVID have delayed the project.
The DDA Mainstreet director said over the past decade, she has used four different fundraising events to generate $130,876. Thayer said the Downtown Light Project is now ready to begin construction.
The $130,876 will pay for the first three phases of the project. Thayer said phase one consists of placing color changing LED lights on every city-owned light pole in downtown Rawlins. The DDA Mainstreet director said placing the lights on city property eliminated potential issues with private property owners. Thayer said the color changing LEDs can be used to set a festive mood in the downtown business district.
Thayer said the increased lighting will attract more attention to downtown Rawlins. The DDA Mainstreet director said she expects people to be drawn into the business district from all around the city.
Thayer said the first phase of the Downtown Light Project should be completed before the end of November. The DDA Mainstreet director said she wants to have the lights ready to be used around Thanksgiving.
Thayer said the next two phases of the Downtown Light Project consists of adding more light poles. The DDA Mainstreet director also said strings of overhead lights will be installed in downtown intersections, similar to the Cheyenne 17th Street Lighting Project.
Thayer said the lights will automatically turn on every night. Bigfoot99 asked Thayer if she is concerned about the increased light pollution from the additional downtown lights. The DDA Mainstreet director said the lighting will only be installed around the business district and not around houses.
Thayer said adding thousands of lights to downtown won’t cause a significant increase in the city’s electric usage. The DDA Mainstreet director said when the entire project is finished, the lights will add approximately $1,100 to the city’s yearly electric bill.
On October 17th, the Rawlins city council held a special work session to discuss the Downtown Lighting Project. Thayer said Mayor Terry Weickum expressed his approval, claiming the lights are an economical way to attract people to Rawlins. The DDA Mainstreet director said the project falls within the scope of her organization’s goal of promoting businesses within the city.
Thayer thanked the many sponsors and donors who contributed to the success of the project. The DDA Mainstreet director said the first phase of the Rawlins Downtown Lighting Project should be completed next month. Thayer said the second and third phases should be finished by spring and summer of 2024.
