INDIANAPOLIS — It took nearly a decade of hard work from residents and city leaders, but one west side Indianapolis community is celebrating an increase in safety.
The Drexel Gardens crime watch group decided in 2010 it needed better street lighting. Then in 2016, Indianapolis started 'Operation Night Light' intending to address the problem.
Ramona Ward says her husband, Bud, then spent two months mapping out the neighborhood and going out at night to markdown spots that needed attention.
And on Thursday Ramona wanted to thank all the city workers who helped her along the way:
"For tolerating me with the monthly questions, asking, 'when are we getting our street lights? Why do other places have them?' as you can tell I'm not bashful in asking anything," Ramona said.
But local leaders say it was persistence and hard work from people — like Ramona and her husband — that led to the 29 new street lights being successfully installed in Drexel Gardens.
The project will eventually bring up to 4,000 new streetlights in Indianapolis by 2025
