PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — After a year in the dark, Boathouse Row is shining bright again. A grand relighting event Thursday night hit the switch on the iconic landscape’s new 6,400-bulb LED lighting system.
A crowd of people lined up after dark to get a clear view of the Schuylkill River and watch officials count down the reveal. The lights are beloved by many, like longtime Philadelphian Susan Dannenberg. Spotting the lights from the Schuylkill Expressway means you’re almost home.
“I was so excited to hear that they were relighting it,” she said. “Every time I drive the expressway or this road, it’s just so great to see all those houses lit up.”
The individual lights can fade in and out and change colors, with 16 million different combinations. A sparkle feature makes the lights “dance” across the historic houses.
“It is one of the quintessential landmarks of Philadelphia and it’s exciting and exhilarating to be part of an effort to relight something like this and know that we’re keeping it going into the future,” said Maura McCarthy, CEO of the Fairmount Park Conservancy.
Fairmount Park Conservancy partnered with Philadelphia Parks and Recreation to replace the lights with upgraded technology — a $2.1 million project.
McCarthy said people can even request their own color combinations.
“The cool thing about this is the system is a bit more interactive than it ever has been in the past,” she said. “You could always change the colors of the lights on Boathouse Row, but now, the public has an opportunity to be part of the stewardship of Boathouse Row.”
For a fee, people can request to book the lights for celebrations, birthdays, anniversaries, and so on. The money goes toward the care and cost of maintaining the lights.