Pound Ridge Civic Groups Look To Improve Business District Lighting

POUND RIDGE, N.Y. – The Pound Ridge Partnership and the Pound Ridge Business Association are forming a joint committee with the purpose of bringing more energy-efficient and aesthetically pleasing streetlights to the Scotts Corner business district.

The new panel will be known as the Committee for Green Streets.

“It has been shown in many cities and towns across America that more efficient street lighting technologies save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” said Ali Boak, a Pound Ridge Partnership member and a member of the Committee for Green Streets. “They also cost less to operate and maintain, have a longer life, provide better visibility and light more evenly and render color more truly.”

Committee members said the lights in Scotts Corner desperately are in need of a makeover.

“The existing street lights were installed in 1993 and are in very poor shape,” said Terri Pike, co-chair of the Partnership’s Beautification Committee and a member of the Committee for Green Streets. “Last year, we purchased a prototype hanging flower basket and the current poles were not stable enough to support it.”

The Committee for Green Streets is working on a business plan that includes a diverse fundraising strategy that focuses on public and private grants, private donations, funding from the town and a program that will provide businesses, organizations, families and others an opportunity to sponsor a streetlight.

Committee for Green Street members said the refurbishing of the streetlights is long overdue. 

“We learned from a representative from NYSEG that the current underground wiring serving the streetlamps has an expected life of about 20 years,” said Ruth Mendes, corresponding secretary for the Pound Ridge Business Association. “The wiring in Scotts Corners was installed over 30 years ago. Replacing it should be appropriate as a routine Parking District maintenance expense for that reason.”

Residents, business owners, community organizations and others will be invited to participate in the effort to make Pound Ridge an environmentally friendly town. The Committee for Green Streets will unveil a plan through which donations can be made to pay for a streetlight in exchange for an engraved plaque that will be affixed to the structure.

“In other communities, donors have shared the cost of the lamp; some make anonymous donations or donate as a tribute to another organization,” said Fred Albano a business owner and member of the Green Streets Committee.

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