Situated within the Virginia Avenue parking garage south of Maryland Street, the $975,000 lighting system resembles swarms of fireflies. Over 1,000 LED lights will be installed below the eight- mile urban trail pavement in addition to another 1,000 in an open steel framework overhead.
Any movement from travellers will activate light sensors which will illuminate the path ahead generating a swarming effect around the individual following the movement. Some sparkles will deviate in a different direction as soon as another traveller passes by the individual, creating the same firefly effect.
The public art to be built as part of the trail’s construction has been unveiled after the opening of the lighting display with other creations expected to be put up after the completion of the trail. The project will be financed through private contributions to the Cultural Trail with work expected to be complete by the end of 2011. The trail will receive both public and private funding and is expected to be ready by 2012.
The Virginia corridor is a connector between Downtown and two Near-Southside neighbourhoods Fletcher Place and Fountain Square. About 673 feet of Virginia Avenue runs through the middle of the elevated garage that is adjacent to Conseco Fieldhouse.
