Shedding light on a problem

Washougal city councilor looks to state to brighten downtown streets

A pedestrian crosses a darkened crosswalk at the corner of 19th and Main streets in Washougal. City Councilor Molly Coston is advocating for the City of Washougal to upgrade the lighting and brighten a dark downtown. (James Rexroad/for The Columbian)

Washougal’s Main Street looks dark on a recent night. City Councilor Molly Coston is advocating for the City of Washougal to upgrade the lighting and brighten a dark downtown. (James Rexroad/for The Columbian)

Light spills from the Eagle’s Lodge in downtown Washougal, which lacks much in the way of street lighting. Washougal City Councilor Molly Coston is advocating for the city of Washougal to upgrade the lighting and brighten a dark downtown. (James Rexroad/for The Columbian)

Downtown Camas, pictured above in the early-morning hours of March 14, “feels welcoming and inviting due to the lighting,” unlike downtown Washougal, according to Washougal Business Association president Lori Reed. (Contributed by Lori Reed)

Street lights are sparse on Washougal’s Main Street. (James Rexroad/for The Columbian)

While driving back to Washougal after an early morning indoor cycling class in east Vancouver on March 14, Lori Reed couldn’t help but notice the stark contrast between the lighting in downtown Camas and downtown Washougal. To her, the difference was literally night and day.

“In Camas, I was amazed that even though it was in the early hours of the day before dawn, the town still felt welcoming and inviting due to the lighting that was on even if shops were not yet open,” said Reed, president of the Washougal Business Association.

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