Richland After Dark (RAD)
Phase II of RAD began in the summer (2022) and was completed in July. An additional 15 streetlights were installed along S. Pine and Chestnut St. in the downtown area. Thanks to a grant from USDA, the City of Richland along with RCDC worked to make this possible. Be sure to check out the new lights, which will join the other 9 lights in Frisco Park to make our downtown more walkable and business-friendly.
RCDC began Phase I of Richland After Dark in 2020 by purchasing and installing 9 new LED 12-ft street lamps for the Frisco Park area on McClurg. By providing safe, welcoming spaces throughout the downtown area for use day and night, RCDC hopes to help businesses stay open later and generate more foot traffic by encouraging walking, shopping, eating, and just hanging out.
Studies show that better lighting makes people feel more comfortable walking after dark. Once the RAD project of adding 33 more lights is completed, RCDC and other organizations will sponsor activities that encourage using the downtown sidewalks for festivals, holiday markets, gathering with friends, and exercise. In the summer, after the sun goes down, walks in the evening will be more appealing. In the winter, joggers, runners and cyclists can bundle up and feel safe in the well-lit downtown as they get in their daily exercise.