The Town of Hearst will be installing several solar lights along parts of their walking trails north of the Mattawishkwia River. Administrator Eric Picard says several areas of the trail either have poor lighting or nothing at all and it’s pretty dark for those that use them.
“For us it’s the north trail near the hospital, so people who use the trail will know it goes from 15th street and drops down and falls to the river but there is absolutely no lighting,” he said. “No roads to intersect that area.”
Picard says it’s a good pilot project before deciding on adding more.
“Manufacturers say they’re good for a certain distance of illumination, and you install them and they are not quite true,” he said. “So by putting the 10 right now, we will be able to see how effective they are and if there are any quirks before we go and do a huge product for the fitness trails across the board.”
The trails are used during the spring and summer and fall seasons, but the town doesn’t maintain them in the winter.
