If all goes according to plan, Onset Avenue will get new streetlights and be freshly paved before summer is over.

Community and Economic Development Authority Director Salvador Pina sought input from the community on whether or not to use $50,000 of the department's grant funding to restore and replace the streetlights in Onset during a public hearing on Thursday, April 25.

Attendance was light, and nobody expressed opposition to the plan.

According to Pina, $50,000 is enough to replace 25 streetlights. Pina says that the Municipal Maintenance Department has agreed to use state funding to replace the remainder of the streetlights.

The number of streetlights that will remain after 25 are done was not immediately clear.

"If the area looks depressed, a tourist is not likely to come back," said Pina. "Think of how that street will look with new poles all lit up at night."

The Municipal Maintenance Department will also be paving Onset Avenue with state funds.

Pina said he hopes to work with the Onset Bay Association and the Community Events Committee to establish an "adopt a light pole" program.

The light heads Pina is planning to purchase will have "stems" sticking out on either side, which could be decorated with flowers when the weather permits, and holiday decorations at other times of the year.

Those who choose to adopt a light pole would decorate them. Pina says that the Municipal Maintenance Department doesn't have the manpower to decorate the poles but, through community involvement, the appearance of the area could be improved upon further.

"I think people would take civic pride in it," said Pina. "Building community isn't just about building infrastructure."

The "adopt a light pole" program would need to be approved by the Board of Selectmen.

Pina said that he hopes to put the project out to bid soon and have the bidding process wrapped up by the end of May at the latest. Once that's complete, it will take six to eight weeks to build the lights, and just a couple of days to install them.