Foley, Ala. — (OBA) — Foley is adding more lights to the oak trees along city streets as part of a project to brighten the downtown area. The new lights will help make the area more welcoming and easier to walk through at night. They are part of a larger plan to improve lighting around town. The project focuses on adding lights to both the trees and nearby walkways.

On June 3, the Foley City Council approved plans to install LED halo lights in trees along Orange Avenue and Alston Street, as well as in front of the Foley Public Library.

Mayor Ralph Hellmich said this work is part of the second phase of the city's downtown lighting project.

“Those tree lighting projects provide ambient light and add to the look of downtown,” Hellmich said. “We have these beautiful oak trees, why not feature them with LED lighting? It doesn't take much electricity to light them, unlike in the old days, when the spotlights burned a lot of electricity.”

The halo lights are placed in rings in the trees. The lights shine down from the trees illuminating the branches providing ambient lighting on the ground. The lights in the trees will also be less vulnerable to vandalism than fixtures installed on the ground.

The new lights will be placed on trees on three corners of the intersection of South Alston Street and West Orange Avenue. The lights at the library are a continuation of the work to illuminate trees on other areas of East Laurel Avenue, including in front of City Hall.