There is no purely practical reason for people to manicure their lawns, plant flower gardens or pressure-wash their driveways, yet many people do it anyway.
Why? For some, it is pride of ownership. For others, presenting their homes in an attractive fashion is a commentary on who they are.
The same principle can be applied to a town or city’s downtown.
When a city’s downtown is clean and appealing, it says something about the community as a whole. It’s a show of confidence, pride and optimism.
This week, Main Street Columbus, the Convention and Visitors Bureau, Columbus Light and Water and the City of Columbus announced a joint venture designed to enhance the ambience of a two-block section of downtown Columbus.
The plan calls for stringing approximately 2,500 white LED lights along the top architectural features of buildings along both sides of Main Street between Catfish Alley/Fourth Street and 6th Street. If all goes well, the lights could be installed by Christmas.
The lights would only be illuminated during holidays and special events, adding an extra dimension of visual charm to the city’s skyline.
In doing so, the plan enhances one of the city’s best features. The section of downtown chosen includes buildings more than 100 years old that feature a unique architectural charm.
The project could be expanded to other downtown blocks in the future.
This is not a new idea. Other cities — Starkville and Corinth, for example — have used this kind of lighting to draw attention to their downtown areas.
Of no small importance, the project will not require taxpayer funding, apart, from the minimal cost of usage, a cost greatly mitigated by the usage of LED lights.
CL&W will string the lights at no cost while the cost of purchasing the lights will be covered through donations.
The Dispatch, which is included in the initial lighting plan, has donated $1,000 for the project. We encourage other businesses and individuals throughout the county to contribute as well. Our downtown is worth showing off, and this effort will be one more way we can highlight one of our city’s most important assets.
Making our downtown more beautiful sends a message to our community and, perhaps more importantly, our visitors.
We are proud of our city and all that it has to offer.
And we’re going to say it in lights.
For more information contact the Convention and Visitors Bureau or Main Street Columbus. Donation checks large and small may be mailed to Columbus Cultural Heritage Foundation, P.O. Box 789, Columbus, Mississippi 39703.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 40 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
