Evening walks in Dallas immerse citizens in the unforgettable atmosphere of peace and quiet of the big city. The unique life begins in the heart of Texas after sunset. The daytime hustle and bustle gradually fades away and in its place comes a completely opposite environment. Street lights complement it quite a bit. Dallas has a lot to tell about them. Read more on dallas-future.
The first decorative street lights in Dallas
At the beginning of the 20th century, Dallas was actively developed. In the center of the city, three prominent buildings appeared: the Adolphus Hotel, the Southwestern Life Insurance Building and the Butler Brothers Building. The process of construction of a dam on the city’s White Rock Reservoir was also coming to an end. It became obvious that the city will continue to develop, the population will increase and it is necessary to create comfortable conditions for everyone’s life. The first decorative street lights were installed along Elm Street, from the Market to Harwood.
Since the fashion for decorative street lighting prevailed among other American cities, this type was chosen for Dallas too. It was an attractive method of lighting. Minimalist lanterns were placed at the same distance from each other. They not only evenly illuminate the street but also decorate it. In addition, the innovation helped reduce the crime rate and increase the value of real estate located near the lighted areas.
The first decorative lanterns in Dallas were made of wrought iron. They looked quite neat and attractive. The pillars, which were painted in a soothing olive color, held pendant lamps with the help of the so-called gooseneck. They were installed along the street in a staggered order to illuminate as large an area as possible.
Modernization of street lights in 2023
In 2023, $2 million was allocated from the city budget for the implementation of two projects related to the modernization of street lighting in Dallas.
As part of the first project, 16 areas with the highest percentage of nighttime crime were identified, mainly next to Malcolm X Boulevard. Better lighting in these areas would increase public safety and make police work easier. According to law enforcement agencies, there were 203 murders in Dallas in 2023. It should be noted that there were 172 of them in 2019 and this number was considered a record for the entire history of the city. The lack of quality lighting is not the only reason for such high crime rates, but increasing the number of street lights in any case increases public safety.
The second project involved the replacement of conventional lights with LED ones. Despite the fact that in most cities LED lamps have been used for a long time, Dallas is almost completely lit by conventional ones. The transition would mean the following:
- rational use and conservation of electricity
- covering a larger area with light
- less need for maintenance.
The city authorities indicated that from the moment the projects were discussed, they would need about five years for their full implementation. During this time, they should not only modernize the street lighting of the city but also update the traffic lights and improve the visibility of pedestrian zones.
In addition, the city budget will increase the amount of funds to install Wi-Fi and a recreation area along with new lamps.
Street lighting in Dallas is developing every day. Work on its improvement is ongoing and funds are allocated. The townspeople also appreciate it because they adore the nightlife of the city for its beauty.
