Should lighting under the Barr Street overpass stay?

Sometimes a small change can make a big difference.

Such might be the case with new decorative lighting brightening the underside of the Norfolk-Southern railroad overpass in downtown Fort Wayne, crossing Barr Street just north of Freimann Square.

Three types of LED lighting have been installed under the overpass, and they can be programmed to a variety of colors, a press release from the City of Fort Wayne says.

However, these new additions to downtown might not be here to stay. That’s for residents to decide.

The lighting is on loan by the City from the lighting company CM Buck and Associates. A press release says that if it performs well, and there is positive feedback from residents, the City will consider purchasing it.

Along with beautifying the area, the lights are intended to enhance public safety for people walking back and forth from the Arts Campus to a growing number of amenities along Superior Street, as part of the City’s Riverfront development plan.

“As the Arts Campus and Riverfront Fort Wayne attract more visitors to the downtown area, we want to enhance the public spaces that connect people to these amenities,” says Pam Holocher, director of Planning & Policy. “When we developed the Front Door Fort Wayne Plan, residents voiced their support for improving the appearance and safety of downtown’s rail overpasses.”

So what do you think about the new lights?

Share your comments with the City’s Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.

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Read more articles by Kara Hackett.

Kara Hackett is a Fort Wayne native fascinated by what's next for northeast Indiana how it relates to other up-and-coming places around the world. After working briefly in New York City and Indianapolis, she moved back to her hometown where she has discovered interesting people, projects, and innovations shaping the future of this place—and has been writing about them ever since. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram @karahackett.