University City District Installs 71 New Pedestrian Lights along Baltimore Avenue

UCD honors key partners and celebrates safety with public dedication on June 25

(Philadelphia, PA) – University City District (UCD) will officially dedicate the neighborhood’s 71 new pedestrian lights installed along Baltimore Avenue from 45th to 50th Street, at 5:30pm on Thursday, June 25. The event will be held at Cedar Park at the northeast corner of 50th Street and Baltimore Avenue.

This lighting project is part of a comprehensive strategy to create a more inviting pedestrian atmosphere along Baltimore Avenue and demonstrate a public commitment to the revitalization of this commercial corridor. The intent is to increase illumination, reduce the perception and reality of crime and encourage private investment. In all UCD has invested over $1.3 million in recent public improvements along Baltimore Avenue including façade grants, greening, public murals and lighting.

Lewis Wendell, University City District’s Executive Director noted, “This project demonstrates the results of a new level of collaboration between the major institutions in University City, Penn Dot, the City of Philadelphia Streets Department and PECO. It is part of a major effort to enhance public safety and create a more pedestrian-friendly environment throughout the University City District.”

The project’s $1.1 million in funding was made possible by generous grants from The City of Philadelphia, INTECH, PennDOT, the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation and the William Penn Foundation. UCD worked diligently for many months with partners in the City of Philadelphia, Penn Dot and PECO to plan for and construct this project to improve pedestrian lighting. At the June 25th dedication, local and statewide governmental officials as well as the partners, friends and neighbors in University City will join UCD to celebrate this extraordinary accomplishment. Those being honored for their support with this project include Mayor Michael Nutter, Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell, Representative James Roebuck, Senator Vincent Hughes, Senator Anthony Williams, PennDOT’s Harold Windisch, Streets Department’s Joseph Doyle, INTECH’s William Schwartz, Commerce Department’s Andrew Altman, William Penn Foundation’s Feather Houston and PIDC’s Peter Longstreth. A short program will precede the ceremony, and refreshments will be served.

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University City District builds effective partnerships to maintain a clean and safe environment and to promote, plan, and advocate for University City’s diverse, urban community.