Install lights in the river
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I believe one of the mayoral candidates suggested this in the last election, but I’ve also had the idea so I thought I’d bring it up now anyways.
The idea is for Idaho Falls to install lighting in the Snake River. Crazy, isn’t it?
The best place to start would be in the river around the pedestrian bridge just south of Broadway bridge. You can see huge boulders going down into the river through this stretch, and I’ve heard divers comment that this area is extremely rocky and even has some caves with air trapped in them.
If we strung waterproof LED lights throughout this area, the river’s beauty would be ratcheted up several notches. We should see all the big boulders under the surface, and kids could see how dangerous it is to dive in this area (or at the least they could see where NOT to dive). Using LED lights that fail little by little over time would keep the maintenance costs to a minimum. An ability to program color changes would make holidays more dramatic (Valentine’s, St. Patrick’s Day, Easter, 4th of July, Halloween, Christmas).
The added beauty would also give more for tourists to see, photograph, and rave about when they return home. And let’s be brutally honest: we could easily spot and retrieve bodies when they float through.
How much would this cost? Who can authorize this? What company can step up to the plate with a proposal and bid?
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Comments
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0 
0 I still like this idea. It would make it much nicer to walk around in the evenings.
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0 0 I find it a hideous idea.
I’ve been to Niagara Falls @ night and was probably one of among dozens who did not find the night light show spectacular so much as I found it tacky.
There are likely creatures living in the rocks that you speak of - we already disturb them plenty - I would find it insulting to my own sense of the balance of things to light up their world for our personal amusement.
Besides - to me - night time is supposed to be dark. There is nothing wrong with walking around a reasonably safe greenbelt like the Idaho Falls one in the dark. If one does not like walking the green belt in the dark, then one might instead choose to walk it during daylight hours - or to bring a flashlight if daylight hours aren’t an option.
I think of underwater lighting and I think about Niagara Falls - and it makes me shudder @ the tackiness.
That’s my opinion.
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0 0 Gypsy, that is a good point. I agree we should not do anything to make it tacky and cheapen our greenbelt experience.
I also agree with your point about disturbing the marine life in the river. A compromise could be to turn the lights off at about 11PM or midnight?
Maybe we could do a trial in the water around the rocks under Taylor pedestrian bridge? Those are the biggest boulder-rocks we have, and on nice days you can see a little bit down and imagine how big they are underneath.
I don’t know the logistics of lighting the rocks. Is there a way we can rent some underwater lights for a few weeks trial? Obviously the city would hear from tourists and citizens if they generally like it or not.
It could go tacky, or it could go sophisticated. We won’t know until we try.
Has anyone seen any other waterways with underwater lights, and did they look tacky or nice?
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0 0 Joe -
I’m not highly familiar with the Taylor Crossing area (I’m the one who doesn’t remember seeing any huge signage there) but my guess would be - if the lights can be done in such a way as to not affect the underwater life, I’d be okay with it. I’m not a huge fan of Taylor’s Crossing anyhow, it does not appeal to me, I enjoyed walking that part of the greenbelt better before the buildings went up. It was quiet and peaceful.
What I’m saying is - tacky IS in the mind of the beholder so what looks gaudy to me will look gorgeous to somebody else (and vice versa - I have interesting taste in colors myself). What is not in the mind of the beholder is the underwater life. That is therefore my main concern.
Turning the lights off @ 11:pm would still be awfully late (especially in the winter when days are naturally short).
I’m a fan of the dark, what can I say?
Interesting topic, I’d really love to read what others think of this idea.
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0 0 Good points again.
I guess when I think of the gray area between tacky and sophisticated, I think of the that Las Vegas casino the Belagio, and their water/light show. Tacky or tasteful? Why would you think one way or the other?
The shutoff time is important. I think winter and summer hours would be appropriate. Winter hours could go until 8 pm, because few people even go down there that late in the winter. I think many people are down still down there until 11 pm in the summer.
I think a test in one area would be the best way to try it and see how the fish react. I recall when the artist Cristo wrapped some islands, and people were concerned with the impact on marine life. The two-week installation actually proved beneficial to the marine life because many started mating under the wraps. A test area in one spot of the IF river could determine if it is beneficial, neutral, or detrimental.
I’m not sure if LED lights would be better than a few strategically placed flood lights. The flood lights could splash light across an entire boulder side.
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0 0 When it comes to Belagio
I vote for tacky, hands down.
Everything on the strip is tacky in my estimation. I used to live in Green Valley (east of the strip) so perhaps I’m jaded.
I like your idea of doing a trial area to see how it affects marine life (if @ all - it is possible it shan’t bother it one bit).
I do hope they only decide to do the lights in a small area though - some of us like night walks because we like walking in the calm of the evening.
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0 0 I personally like the Bellagio water light show. Like Joe said, one mans tackiness is another mans cool display. They have a couple of the same types of displays in Disney World/Epcot Ctr in Orlando and everyone loves them. (at least everyone I’ve spoken to) But then again, they don’t really affect much marine life either. There is a big lake in the middle of Epcot where their fireworks/lightshow “Illuminations” is held each night, but I’m sure what little marine life is in that lake, is quite used to it by now. I think putting the lighting around the water or even sidewalk might look a little better. Anybody who’s been to the strip in Ft.Lauderdale and has seen the LED lights on the wall next to the sidewalk will tell you how awesome it looks. It’s very subtle and the colors slowly change to every color of the rainbow. Not tacky at all. IMO
I think having something like that embedded in the sidewalk around the greenbelt might look better than actually in the water. The flood lights on the boulders idea is a better suggestion I think.
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0 0 The falls is man-made. Haven’t we pretty much disturbed the natural order of things as much as possible by creating a falls on the river? And a power turbine? And a bridge with massive traffic? Boating and jet-skiing on the river?
I don’t think that disturbing the wildlife on the greenbelt is a reason against the lights. I, for one, think it’s a splendid idea and we should crunch some numbers to see how much it would cost.
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0 0 It IS a human-created use of water - but in the meantime creatures have adapted to enjoyng life there.
I’m not sure creatures would loathe the lights - I’d just like to do a bit of research before we move on in there and decide it’s a “good thing” to do.
Sometimes “good things” we do turn out to be utter fiascos - think responsibly first, that’s my suggestion.
Also though - on a personal note - I’ve seen water lit up by lights @ night and I find it most hideous. I think water @ night looks better as water @ night. Dark. That’s just my personal taste - but - that’s rather what this thread is about so I will say it again - I think lights under the water would be TACKY - but if it must be done, let’s pick one area and leave the rest alone.
Note - I liked the south side of the greenbelt walk TONS better before Taylor Crossing exploded itself upon the view. I didn’t mind looking @ the back side of ABF.
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0 0 I thought this was a stupid idea at first, and yes it could have impact on the flora and fauna to have some semblance of daytime all of the time, but… It would look so cool. Especially in winter. Maybe some music choreographed lights behind the falls. I think brighter than LED would be key, but it’s great thinking. While we’re at it, let’s install some in your yard.
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Vote:
we could be the only city with an underwater light show