Downtown State College is getting a little brighter with the help of streetlights that have been placed in the Urban Village neighborhood.

Public Works Director Mark Whitfield said about 15 new lights were recently placed on existing utility poles in the area west of Atherton Street. The installation began in March or April and was completed about two weeks ago.

Whitfield said the new lights are temporary until something more decorative can be decided on.

He said these new lights are a part of a policy recommendation that will be presented to the State College Borough Council to revamp lighting downtown. He said findings would soon become a recommendation to the council of what style of lights should be installed.

He said 16 total lights were installed by Allegheny Power, although 21 or 22 locations were requested. At the other six locations, Allegheny Power was not able to install the new lights on the existing poles, Whitfield said.

Specifically, the lights were placed at alley intersections and at the backs of some properties. Locations include Clay Lane, Highland Alley, Calder Alley, and North Patterson and North Sparks streets, all of which are located in the Urban Village neighborhood and have a fair amount of pedestrian movement.

Whitfield said the new lights in the Urban Village were put up at a minimal cost, which included an everyday energy cost, the installation and the initial cost of putting up poles.

The new lights will increase the borough's monthly bill by $1,700, he said.

Whitfield said there was also an environmental and aesthetics cost.

"In high pedestrian areas, aesthetics is more important," he said.

Whitfield said the locations of the lights were chosen after he went through the Urban Village with a group from the Off-campus Student Union.

"I have been working with them for five years on different lighting and where they perceive there to be some lighting needs," Whitfield said.

He said one thing that came out of meeting with the Off-Campus Student Union was the installation of streetlights on Garner Street.

"For the most part, we have gotten a lot of positive feedback from students who walk in that corridor," Whitfield said.

He also said that while the borough doesn't have any statistics on street lighting leading to a reduction in crime, "identifying a perpetrator is easier in a well-lit area."

He said three of the streetlights placed on Garner Street have been knocked over this year, most likely by vandals.

Whitfield said it was very frustrating to have this happen, especially because the work was done at the request of students.

He said new lights that have been ordered to replace those that were knocked down will be available in the fall.