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Council hears plan for downtown Bryan holiday lights; presenters say LED tree can meet December kickoff
Summary
A committee and Audience Media Group proposed a master plan for Downtown Bryan holiday lighting and immersive displays, recommending installations at Sale Park, Carnegie Library, the Palace Theater and a small-business decoration-grant program; presenters said a key LED tree can be delivered in time for a December kickoff if ordered now.
City leaders on the Bryan City Council heard a presentation on a proposed master plan for downtown holiday lighting that would add LED displays, immersive photo-op installations and a small decoration grant for merchants to expand façade decor.
"We want to give Downtown Bryan a sense of place," said Jessica Yokesh of Audience Media Group, who described mockups for Sale Park, the Carnegie Library and the Palace Theater and said the plan is designed to increase foot traffic and local spending. Kathy Capps, who helped convene the committee, told the council the proposal was developed with city staff, Destination Bryan and vendor partners.
Presenters described a phased approach. At Sale Park they proposed an LED tree that can run a short show every 15 minutes; at the Carnegie Library they recommended classic pillar wrappings and programming such as storytelling; and at the Palace Theater they proposed seasonal photo-op elements that could be re-themed year round. "This first part is about Sale Park," Yokesh said. "You can never miss it because you can go on any night and see that as well."
Council members pressed on schedule and cost. Yokesh said one element—the LED panel tree that syncs with music—is time-sensitive but "we are able to actually get that in time, to meet a December 1 kickoff of the season," and that the unit comes with three preprogrammed songs and is controllable by a smartphone app. Committee organizers said capital costs for lighting and trees are significant but that installation is largely a one-time expense; replacements should be infrequent over a multi-year horizon.
Council discussion emphasized marketing and accessibility. The mayor and several council members said they view the plan as a way to attract visitors and capture more sales tax revenue downtown. Council members also discussed starting with buildings the city controls and then seeking buy-in from private property owners; presenters proposed offering modest grants (example cited: $500 per merchant) to reduce the barrier for facade decorations.
The council signaled support and asked staff to take the next steps to pursue the proposal and confirm timing for the LED tree element. Presenters noted extra phases — neighborhood contests and extended programming — could follow in year two.
