Just in time for Christmas, Main Street, from Dover Street to Locust Street, and the newly renovated Court Square are aglow with new holiday lights funded by Springfield’s Neighborhood Enhancement Fund.
The Main Street lights include giant snowflake scrolls that are 9.5-feet tall, and line both sides of the street from Liberty Street south to Locust Street. From Liberty Street north to Dover Street, heavenly angels which are 8-feet tall, adorn the lamp poles. In total, including pole-mounted angel displays that were purchased in 2022 and 2023, there are more than 240 holiday lights on Main Street.
The historic Court Square has 25 lacy Nouveau Halos. They are 6-feet 5.5 inches wide by 5-feet 11-inches tall and stretch down Veterans Way to the McKinley Monument. The water in the fountain has been replace by flowing lights twinkling from the top to the basin. The new evergreen tree glows brilliantly with more than 3,000 lights that were installed by Springfield Park Department’s Forestry Division.
After being awarded the contract by the City of Springfield in October, the Spirit of Springfield placed the large, late-season order. Carpenter Decorating, which designed and produced the magnificent displays at Bright Nights at Forest Park, were quick to get the custom order into production, and delivered to Massachusetts in November. The Spirit of Springfield worked closely with David R. Northup Electric Contractors, who worked diligently to get the displays installed by Christmas. Eversource offered assistance to get service to poles that did not have the necessary electrical connections.
“This was a major undertaking,” said Spirit of Springfield President Judy Matt. “It is one we are proud to have brought to fruition to further solidifying Springfield's reputation as the 'City of Bright Nights.' It enhances the Main Street corridor and adds to the many privately owned buildings that are lit for the holidays.”
In March, Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno allocated a total of $3 million to support neighborhood enhancements. Applications had to be recommended by a neighborhood council or developed in collaboration with neighborhood input. They also needed to contribute to the safety, health, vibrancy, and/or more walkable neighborhood.
Mayor Sarno states, “The beautiful lights lining our Main Street will warm your heart and bring a twinkle to your eyes – this is what Christmas is all about. We started with the heavenly angels last year and have been able to expand all the way down through the South End with the snowflakes and halos in Court Square thanks to the investments in the Neighborhood Enhancement Fund, and collaboration with our city Economic Development team and Parks Department. Investing in our neighborhoods and our residents’ quality of life has been a top priority for me and my administration and we are grateful to the Spirit of Springfield for spreading holiday magic throughout our neighborhoods. Wishing good health and joy to all this holiday season, and all through the New Year!”
Chief Development Officer Tim Sheehan states, “Supporting our neighborhoods has always been a key priority of the city’s pandemic recovery efforts and we appreciate the Spirit of Springfield’s utilization of funding from the Neighborhood Enhancement Fund to design and install new holiday lighting all along Main Street from the South End to the North End, and for getting this large undertaking completed by Christmas Eve, despite a short time frame. This is one of multiple enhancement projects that offers a neighborhood benefit that will contribute to a safer, healthier, more vibrant neighborhood. Not only is this good for the quality of life of our residents, it has a positive impact on the development of the entire city. Thank you again to the Spirit of Springfield and also to Mayor Sarno for his leadership, and our friends in the Park Department for their partnership to make our neighborhoods stronger and more resilient. I am also grateful to our residents and neighborhood councils for partnering with the city on these projects as we continue to invest in our neighborhoods. We are looking forward to a bright 2025 and continued successful collaboration on behalf of all our neighborhoods.”
Parks, Buildings, and Recreation Management (PBRM) Director Thomas Ashe stated, “A major part of what our department does to support these important neighborhood enhancement projects is manual labor – and it is truly a labor of love, especially when we see the finished result is so positive and spreads holiday spirit throughout our beloved city. We are grateful to work alongside Mayor Sarno, the Spirit of Springfield, and the city’s Neighborhood Services and Development team to help install these lighting projects. I hope everyone has healthy and happy holiday with their friends and family.”
