Ottawa's Washington Square is getting brighter.

Crews were at the park starting at 7:30 a.m. Thursday to hang additional lights after the public expressed disappointment that the amount of lights was reduced from the previous years.

Commissioner Marla Rodriguez and Mayor Dan Aussem were on-site to lend a hand.

Rodriguez said many of the lights were donated, in addition to the work of crews with trucks and lifts to hang them high in the trees.

"We're adding a little color that we don't usually have and a lot of snowflakes and stars that will be added," Rodriguez said.

The trucks were kept on the sidewalks after Aussem expressed concern the ground may be too soft to support a lift, and parking lanes were blocked to allow the machines some room to move.

Around 10 to 12 volunteers showed up by 9 a.m. with more expected to follow.

They couldn't assist with the lifts but found their own ways to help.

Stephanie Stacy, of Garden's Gate, was erecting white birch poles in the planters around the fountain area and stringing white lights over them with other volunteers.

"This is what I thought we could contribute to help," Stacy said.

Aussem told The Times earlier in the week that the city "failed" when lighting the park this year. He said he was told La Salle Street was too dark last year and as the city had trimmed the lower branches of trees at Washington Square, those lights were moved to double up on La Salle Street.

There also were issues with extension cords in the park due to dew and moisture on the grass.

Ottawa resident Dylan Conmy expressed interest to local media in creating a "Light Up Ottawa" fund following the frustration with fewer lights.

Originally he considered taking donations where he works at Prairie Fox Books but is instead determining another way to best to collect funds for next year's festivities. He said he'll share information on how to donate when it's available.

Read more:
Deck The Trees | The - MyWebTimes.com

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