On Wednesday, Aug. 19, the Red River Waterway Commission approved a $1 million allocation to install LED lights on the Texas Street Bridge. This historic vote opened the doors to the announcement of the anonymous donors who conceived the idea to relight the bridge in LED lights, Dr. George and Sandra Bakowski. The Bakowskis pledged $1 million to Mayor Adrian Perkins to purchase the LED lights, with the understanding that they would select the lighting vendor, the world’s largest bridge lighting and architectural LED lighting company, SIGNIFY. This announcement could not be made, however, until funds were raised to pay for installation and programming.
With support from Foster Campbell, Louisiana Public Service Commission and philanthropist Will Atkins, the Bakowskis and the Red River Waterway Commission are creating the “Bakowski Bridge of Lights.”
Dr. George Bakowski is an optometrist who sees the relighting of the bridge as a way to bring “20/20 Vision” to Shreveport and Bossier City. He explains, “I have been practicing optometry in this area for 45 years and have always enjoyed enthusiastic support from the community. I decided to give something back to Shreveport-Bossier that we can take pride in and that can be enjoyed by all. The bridge lights will showcase Shreveport-Bossier to the millions traveling I-20 daily. I am glad to be able to bring this great attraction to light!”
The Texas Street Bridge was first brought to light in 1993 by internationally renowned lighting pioneer Rockne Krebs, and celebrated a light life span of 23 years. The transformation to a programmable, LED-lit installation will become a beacon for events, venues and attractions that make Northwest Louisiana a dynamic place to live, work, play and raise a family. An additional feature to the plan for colorful LED lights on the bridge is the “City Interact Roadway Lighting” that will replace all of the old (1964) street lamps on the Texas Street Bridge with LED white light.
“The potential of the Bakowski Bridge of Lights to attract increased recreational and sports events on the Red River was a great motivator for the consensus of the Commissioners to support the installation of the lights,” Colin Brown, executive director for the Red River Waterway shared.
The LED bridge lights can be programmed to welcome visitors to conventions, announce major community events such as the Red River Revel and Mudbug Madness and be a “Bridge Booster” for major events such as the Independence Bowl and the Bass Pro Classic Tournament. The Shreveport Regional Arts Council, as the designated “Public Art Arm” of the City of Shreveport is committed to identifying lighting artists and designers, and has received a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to engage artists to design custom light artworks.
New lighting designs will “debut” with a Red River Glo Fest featuring live entertainment, an arts market, street performers and a food truck market. The Red River Glo Fests will alternate on either side of the River and are produced by the Bossier Arts Council and the Shreveport Regional Arts Council. Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins, Bossier City Mayor Lo Walker and the Shreveport-Bossier Convention & Tourist Bureau are supporting the unique approach to interactivity. An InterAct “Light Play” app will allow people to select favorite colors and programs, and a social media app will track responses to the bridge and assist in measuring economic impact as new businesses develop and current businesses, restaurants and cultural attractions expand.
Bridge-lighting programs will also feature traditional holiday colors and cause celebrations such as pink for breast cancer awareness, orange for hunger awareness, and red for the Heart Association health awareness campaigns. Casinos along the Red River will be able to boast “brilliant” viewing opportunities. The Aquarium and Sci-Port will add a new “viewing” option for their rentals and events, and the Spring Street and Traffic Street exits will invite visitors to exit and drive through the animated light experience on the Red River.
This fall, the City of Shreveport will oversee a public process to select the contractor to install the lights on the bridge. Funding for the installation comes from the Red River Waterway Commission and the Louisiana Public Service Commission; funding for the Artists Designs is provided through the National Endowment for the Arts and Will Atkins, and funding for the purchase of the LED Lights is donated by Dr. George and Sandra Bakowski. It is anticipated that the LED light installation and roadway lighting will be complete and ready for public celebration by the Fourth of July Independence Day Celebration.
THIS ARTICLE WAS PUBLISHED IN THE August 28 ISSUE OF FOCUS SB - THE INQUISITOR.