In the 4.5 mile stretch connecting 10 neighborhoods within the city of Charlotte, North Carolina (USA), city officials and businesses have been joining forces to create an urban park along the light rail tracks. Known as the rail trail, this linear park draws visitors and commuters from all of the surrounding areas. The goal is to make it more than simply a way to get from point A to point B – it should become a destination in and of itself.

City of Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S. starts cityscape transformation. (All Photos Courtesy of Philips)

“Our vision is for the Rail Trail to be a zipper that connects people and neighborhoods,” said Cheryl Myers, senior vice president for planning and development at Charlotte Center City Partners. “This project represents the type of unique experiences we plan to curate across the length of the Rail Trail and is a remarkable example of what can be accomplished when the private sector and community stakeholders collaborate.”

Both the Beasley Broadcasting radio Tower and the Duke Energy substation have been lit with Philips LEDs, allowing for up to 16,000 color changes and 13 programmable scenes.

Both the Beasley Broadcasting radio Tower and the Duke Energy substation have been lit with Philips LEDs, allowing for up to 16,000 color changes and 13 programmable scenes. The possibilities for tailoring the lighting are endless and already bringing positive feedback from the city of Charlotte. Local businesses use the lights as landmarks, helping bring additional traffic to their locations. Visitors are reacting positively as well. Plus, the new lighting adds an additional level of safety to the surrounding area.

The city has a new look after it's illuminated with LEDs.