Stakeholders Walk Potential 'Lights on Whites' Relocation

With visions of sugarplums dancing in their heads, stakeholders in the Lights in Lansdale Christmas light extravaganza took a walk along Madison Street to discuss their visions for the new avenue of lights.

, the display is now being discussed as a potential three-phase project, with the focus of year one being on a decorative loop from Main Street through Madison Street.

Year two would expand to the Wood-Vine connector, which will nearly double the display, and the third year will be the piece-de-resistance, with the display running the Madison Street loop, the Wood-Vine connector and ending with the Lights on Whites display.

“We want to make Lansdale a gigantic Christmas town,” said Keith Heffintrayer, who along with his wife, Kristen, submitted the original proposal for the Lights on Whites project. “This year is just the beginning. We are planning to start with Main and Madison, build the display’s reputation, and work outwards to "

Councilwoman Mary Fuller added that once the display begins in Lansdale, it will become a part of the borough's holiday traditions.

With the short-term focus being on the Main and Madison loop, Parks and Recreation Director Carl Saldutti said he believes the display will have to be elaborate enough to draw in Lansdale residents, as well as residents from neighboring communities.

All who gathered thought it would be best to make the display something that residents could walk through, and everyone within the group agreed that something grandiose would need to be erected at the intersection of Main Street and Madison Street to make residents and visitors aware of the lights display.

The heart of the light display would contain a mixture of Christmas lights, colored up-lighting, animated light displays and potential displays created by students from North Penn School District.  Weekly choir sessions and piped-in holiday music were also discussed as potential features.

The group also discussed the possibility of having the Lansdale Business Association move their tree display along Main Street, which will help complete the circle from Madison to Main Street for pedestrians walking the light display.

Fuller added that she believes Discover Lansdale could play a role in the display, and that she is planning on putting together a Discover Lansdale committee to help in the planning for the light display. 

Borough Manager Timi Kirchner agreed that a committee should be established as soon as possible, to deal with the vast amount of planning.

“We need to pull a committee together as fast as we can,” said Kirchner.

While Kirchner liked the original Lights on Whites proposal, she pointed out that starting the display downtown would highlight the borough's efforts to revitalize Lansdale.

“At this moment in time we really need to focus on the downtown,” said Kirchner. “This is new and this is beautiful,” said Kirchner, of the downtown area, “and we want people to see that. It’s a great idea, let’s focus here first."

By building towards the Lights on Whites display, it would not only create momentum, but it would give the borough added time to deal with the issues that have surfaced in regards electricity and safety at Whites Road Park.

Public Works Director Jake Ziegler said that prior to the Lights on Whites display, three electrical transformers would need to be installed along the walking trail of Whites Road park to supply the power.  The total cost for the installation of the transformers could range from $8,000 to $10,000.

Lansdale Police Chief Robert McDyre added that vandalism and safety concerns would also need to be addressed prior to the Lights on Whites display, citing the many access points to the park and that fact that police officers can only access the trail by foot or on patrol bikes.