Group aims to bring solar powered streetlights to Highland Park

Streetlights cost around $3,000 each

HIGHLAND PARK, Mich. – Big portions of the city of Highland Park have gone without streetlights for years and an activist group is trying to change that.

“We don’t have any residential streetlights,” Michelle Jones said.

Jones said they haven’t had streetlights for years.

“We only have streetlights on the main streets and recently two of those were taken out by accidents,” Jones said.

Jones said she loves walking around her neighborhood for exercise but won’t do it at night. She said she doesn’t feel safe.

“I wouldn’t walk down my street at night right now,” Jones said.

Shimekia Nichols with Soulardarity said her nonprofit organization wants to provide people a sense of security by installing solar lights throughout Highland Park.

“We don’t have many residential streetlights. They were repossessed about 10 years ago due to some financial issues with the city,” Nichols said.

Nichols said they have 10 solar lights located throughout the city.

“What we’ve been is just galvanizing the community again for advocacy, but also at the grassroots level, but also at the federal level as well,” Nichols said.

Nichols said each solar light costs around $3,000.

“I think also for Highland Park the darkness has caused a sense of hopelessness and to bring the lights back will help citizens and residents to feel like we’re actually cared about,” Jones said.

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