One nonprofit group’s gift of market lights brightens city
Downtown Antioch is a whole lot brighter these days, thanks to the work of Celebrate Antioch Foundation.
The group, which hosts numerous Antioch events, donated $12,000 and countless hours to add hundreds of market lights to downtown’s main streets just in time for the holidays. Even better, the lights will stay up all year long to brighten the streets, which had been dimly lit in some areas.
The market lights are a project that Celebrate Antioch Foundation and downtown merchants have envisioned for
several years, according to the foundation board’s president, Joy Motts. It is one of several projects they hope will help draw customers to the historic Rivertown District.
“The lights will not only add vibrancy and ambiance to downtown and support the city’s efforts to create a down
town restaurant district but will also add additional lighting outside storefronts and restaurants on these short days where it is dark before businesses close and help with outdoor dining in the evening as we move into 2021 and better weather,” she said.
Although Motts earlier had helped secure money for the project from the the city’s capital improvements budget, there were so many other projects lined up ahead of it for funding that the nonprofit decided to take on the task itself to bring some life to the downtown, which has struggled during the coronavirus pandemic.
“It could have been two to three years down the road before the city would have gotten to this project,” Celebrate Antioch Foundation Vice President Michael Gabrielson said.
Gabrielson helped map out the plan and determine what supplies were needed, including 59 boxes of 48-foot-long strings of lights with a total of 1,416 light bulbs for starters. Motts meanwhile worked with the city to obtain permits and insurance. The city added power to light poles where needed.
“It creates a nice ambiance and it seems very inviting when you drive downtown,” said Gabrieleson, who also co-owns Willow Park Mercantile downtown. “But we really wanted to do this for additional security and visibility. It’s lit up very nicely and people feel a little more comfortable walking around.”
The newly installed market lights run on both sides of the streets, above the sidewalks on G Street from the waterfront to Fourth Street and then on both the north and south sides of Second Street from I to E streets.
The LED high- efficiency lighting was professionally installed and is expected to last at least five years. They will be on every night from dusk until dawn, Gabrielson said.
He said the lighting will be helpful for a number of events Celebrate Antioch Foundation has planned, such as the Rivertown Art & Wine Walk on Mother’s Day weekend and a peddlers’ fair in August, among others.
“We’ve received a lot of positive feedback,” Gabrielson said. “It will be a really nice and festive downtown.”
Businesswoman Tammy Larson agreed.
“We have been wanting market lights and lights in the trees in hopes that people would come downtown more in the evening times,” Larson said, noting the lights will be perfect for the foundation’s Hot August
Cruise Night.
Because of the pandemic, business her office Almost on Second has There been Street, slow Travel she at said, but her customers and friends are happy about the new lighting.
“People seem genuinely excited about that and want to take a drive down here to see it,” she said.
In the fall, the city kicked in $15,000 so downtown restaurants could create barriers to protect outdoor dining spaces, although recent stay- at-home orders and cold weather have temporarily halted outdoor din-ing
Even so, several new restaurants or cafes have either opened or are in the process, including Chill Tea & Coffee, Tease Southern Kitchen, a sushi cafe, and the Riverview Lodge now under renovation with new owners.
Businesses struggling in the pandemic could also apply for $ 5,000 grants through the city.
“I am very optimistic,” Gabrielson said. “I know COVID(-19) has really affected businesses in a negative way but we are staying strong. We have good customers and we are able to weather the storm. I really think things are looking up.”