Riverhead's Downtown Receives $30K Grant for Lighting

After months of discussions about how lighting can help enhance downtown Riverhead, Supervisor Sean Walter announced that the Riverhead Business Improvement District has recently been awarded $30,000 in Suffolk County Downtown Revitalization funding that will allow for the purchase and installation of LED light fixtures along Main Street.

“The project will enhance lighting of pedestrian facilities along Main Street in downtown Riverhead for residents and tourists alike," Walter said.

Community Development Director Chris Kempner, who prepared the application on behalf of the BID, said Riverhead officials have agreed to remove and replace existing conduit and install new decorative light poles with LED fixtures.
 
"The existing lighting fixtures along the downtown sidewalks and pedestrian paths are approximately 20 years old, inefficient and in need of repair," she said.

The new LED lighting will significantly increase the efficiency of the lights by at least 50 percent, Kempner said, while replacing aging infrastructure and providing a safer walking environment.

In addition, the town expects to achieve significant reoccurring savings in power bills of approximately half of the $40,000 annual cost to operate lights downtown.

The monies may therefore be invested into other infrastructure improvements to both support existing shops and allow opportunities for new businesses to spread their wings. 

“Enhanced pedestrian lighting will benefit local downtown businesses by connecting recreational opportunities and existing successful Riverhead businesses, thus facilitating increased pedestrian activity by locals and visitors from all over Long Island,” Walter said.

“The improved lighting will serve to provide visitors with a more attractive, safer downtown Riverhead business district,” BID President Ray Pickersgill said. “The enhanced pedestrian environment will lead to increased activity along Main Street and the Peconic waterfront. Improving infrastructure serving the entire downtown will enhance BID event programming opportunities and other events to attract visitors to downtown.”