Lights On! Our West Bayfront

Our West Bayfront Board Member and Neighborhood Leader, Candace Battles, discusses Lights On! OWB.

West Bayfront neighbors are looking out for one another by leaving a light on!

The Lights On! OWB initiative is an effort by Our West Bayfront to improve safety in the West Bayfront neighborhoods by increasing lighting and visibility, and by strengthening neighborhood relationships.

Our Progress

2017

In the first phase of this initiative, OWB shared information about free energy efficiency kits available through the electric utility Penelec, and began distributing promotional materials that encourage residents and business owners to leave exterior lights on for safety.

Spring 2019

Resident volunteers collected exterior lighting data for a 16 block portion of their neighborhood. In this assessment about 1/3 of residential buildings were found to have an outdoor light on at night. OWB distributed free LED sensor bulbs on blocks where fewer people left lights on.

2020

Further night time data collection revealed a similar 1/3 “lights on” trend in the rest of the West Bayfront’s neighborhoods. Residents went door to door in their area distributing automatic light sensitive LED porch lights to their neighbors.

2021

Plans are currently underway to pick and install lighting and security hardware at no less than 3 focus regions in the neighborhood based in part on community feedback as well as EPD crime data.

Above is a map showing the locations where “dusk til dawn” LED bulbs have been distributed (Yellow Pins), as well as the locations of community members who have provided digital feedback in the form of a survey (White Diamonds).

If you are interested in taking advantage of exterior porch lights installed for free through grant funding, complete the form below! We will reach out to you with further details upon completion. If you have any questions or concerns, contact Marissa Litzenberg at marissa@ourwestbayfront.org or calling 814-871-7960.

Exterior Lighting Application

To improve lighting and visibility in the West Bayfront neighborhoods, Our West Bayfront is able to install exterior lighting on residential and commercial properties in eligible areas through the Lights On OWB! program. The program covers the majority of the cost (with a $25 deposit) of installation and equipment of one exterior lighting fixture to be installed at the front of the property. This program is made possible thanks to funding from the Erie Community Foundation and through a grant from Erie Insurance throught the PA Department of Community and Economic Development Tax Credit Program.

 
This project has received funding commitments from the Erie Community Foundation and Erie Insurance through the PA Department of Community and Economic Development Neighborhood Assistance Program, a tax credit program available to businesses.