Anyone with a stakehold in the Crosland Park neighborhood in northern Aiken is invited to take part in the City of Aiken's Flashlight Walk on Thursday.
The Urban Land Institute's panel-recommended study on the needs for Aiken's Northside, published earlier this year, recommended the installation of more, and better, lighting in the Crosland Park neighborhood.
With the help of the Crosland Park Neighborhood Association, Emory Langston, the City's special projects coordinator, wants to look at improving the lighting in that area.
"We felt it was very important, of course, to get the input from neighbors in Crosland and to point out where the dark spots are and where lighting can improve those areas," Langston said.
Residents will meet shortly before 9 p.m. in front of the Crosland Park Community Resource Center, 1248 Crosland Drive.
Those same residents will be divided into three groups to tackle three zones in the neighborhood.
Residents will be accompanied by representatives from the City, SCE&G and the Aiken Department of Public Safety.
"We're trying to make this as efficient as possible, so we're dividing into these sections; and we hope to get through it in about an hour, but the groups will go through a map in their zone, and their task is to mark on the map where the lighting needs to be improved or added," Langston said.
Following the Flashlight Walk, Langston said the next step will be to compile the information and send it to SCE&G to lay out different options for lighting.
Those recommendations will then go to Aiken City Manager John Klimm and City Council for approval.
"For so many reasons, the neighbors need to have their voice in this, and I think this is a great opportunity to do so," Langston said. "Obviously with the timing, it's two to three days before we get the longest day of the year, so that's the reason we're waiting until 9 p.m. There will be City staff, Public Safety and representatives from SCE&G; and we just really want the neighbors to come out in force."
For more information or for any individual interested in being one of the group leaders, email elangston@cityof aikensc.gov.
Maayan Schechter is the local government reporter with Aiken Standard. Follow her on Twitter @MaayanSchechter.