Foley is adding more LED halo lights to oak trees along key downtown streets as part of an ongoing beautification and public safety effort.

Foley City Council recently approved the installation of the lighting on Orange Avenue and Alston Street, including new fixtures in front of the Foley Public Library. The move marks the second phase of a larger project to enhance visibility and highlight the city's signature oak-lined walkways.

Mayor Ralph Hellmich said the addition of tree lighting is a strategic improvement to the downtown experience.

"Those tree lighting projects provide ambient light and add to the look of downtown," Hellmich said. "We have these beautiful oak trees, why not feature them with LED lighting? It doesn't take much electricity to light them, unlike in the old days, when the spotlights burned a lot of electricity."

The halo lights are installed in ring formations within the tree canopies, casting a soft glow downward through the branches. The design not only creates a distinctive aesthetic but also provides ambient light along sidewalks and public areas. Officials say the elevated placement makes the lights less susceptible to vandalism than traditional ground-level fixtures.

New installations are planned for trees at three corners of the intersection of South Alston Street and West Orange Avenue. The library lighting continues work already completed on other sections of East Laurel Avenue, including the stretch in front of City Hall.