The City of Davis has invited the community to give feedback on lighting options in downtown, through an online survey open through January 31.
The survey includes three different lighting options designed to replace the decorative twinkle lights that used to hang on trees along downtown sidewalks. Those lights were removed because of wear and tear, according to the City.
The City plans to install new nights that will amp up the downtown ambiance, provide much-needed lighting for safety, and reduce impacts on downtown tree health.
Each survey option has a photo, summary and a list of pros and cons.
The three options are: a laser unit affixed to the ground projecting small, moving lights toward tree canopies, LED lights strung between installed poles, or LED lights strung between trees.
You can also see a test pilot of these three options in person before providing input—the three options are located downtown at three of the four corners at Second and E Streets.
City officials say each option works to minimize impacts to trees; lights will not be wrapped around trees/trunks and will not be affixed via staples or tightly wrapped ribbon, nor will lighting power sources be permitted via extension cords.
In the summer/fall of 2023, the City of Davis assessed and pruned the 900+ trees in downtown Davis while also taking down the previous “twinkle” lights that adorned a number of them. They were in use for a decade.
