Boston - April 01, 2009

Oh, Lighten Up

Freedom Trail Gets a Makeover

Bostonians have always been an enlightened bunch.

So it’s fitting that a new project is setting the city aglow: The Freedom Trail — you know, the painted brick path winding 2.5 miles through the city — has been lit up. Literally. As of today, weight-sensitive Urban Illumination Blocks™ have replaced each and every crimson slab.

The brainchild of MIT grad students Billy-Jean Jackson and Shawn O’Plese, the Plexiglas cubes illuminate with every step, thanks to earth-friendly bulbs that run on energy drawn from solar panels installed on the roof of the Old North Church.

The project has pissed off plenty of people (Paul Revere’s family is not happy). But most will be delighted to learn a musical component will be added next year.

They’re just full of bright ideas.

For more information, go to urbanillumination.com.