A Landrum resident approached city council this week armed with three pages of signatures in favor of installing lighting at the Brookwood Park walking trail.
Randy Dodd, who lives near the park, brought signatures from all nearby property owners who would be affected by the lights, as well as residents who frequently walk the trail.
Dodd said many residents walk the trail after dark, and the park does not close until 10 p.m.. There is lighting on the north end of the trail, but not the south end.
Landrum City Administrator Steve Wolochowicz said his first concern was that homeowners might complain because of too much light at night, but Dodd got approval from every nearby homeowner.
Wolochowicz said he has spoken with Duke Energy, which said it could install the poles and direct the lighting downward. The wiring, Wolochowicz said, would be placed underground.
Wolochowicz said he will seek estimates from Duke Energy on what the light installation will cost.
The walking trail at Brookwood Park, located on N. Bomar Avenue near downtown, was completed in Jan., 2008, but residents have been using the trail since 2007.
The paved trail is approximately 1/2 mile long through the woods, complete with bridges and a stream. The trail was completed after a city survey several years ago concluded that Landrum residents’ greatest recreation desire was a walking trail.
The city received an $80,000 grant from the Mary Black Foundation and a $60,000 grant from the S.C. Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism to help fund the trail’s construction.