By LEAH WEATHERSBY

Greenwood will be one of four Seattle neighborhoods to receive new street lights through a joint project of the Seattle Police Department, Seattle City Light and the Department of Neighborhoods, according to Dena Peel, senior capitol projects coordinator with Seattle City Light.

Greenwood, Rainier Beach, Belltown and Broadway on Capitol Hill will each receive 55 lights, areas which Peel said have been identified as places with pedestrian safety concerns. The Greenwood/Phinney Chamber Chamber of Commerce plans to purchase 25 more of the same lights with early implementation funds.

"They're really going to improve the pedestrian pathway," said Michele Della Pella, president of the Greenwood/Phinney Chamber. Della Pella is manager of the Greenwood branch of Bank of America.

The lights will be placed on Phinney-Greenwood Avenue between N 65th Street and N 90th Street, and then on N 85th Street between Fremont and 3rd Avenue NW.

Three lights will also be purchased for the Heart of Phinney Park by the Phinney Neighborhood Association.

The new lights will be mounted on existing poles to save money. While Peel said they will only be 70 watts, she noted that because they will be focused over sidewalks only only 12-15 feet high they will still be able to illuminate pedestrian areas efficiently.

Appropriately, Greenwood has chosen dark green lights for the neighborhood .

"Communities are looking for a way to identify their signature," said Peel, who explained that elements light matching street lights can help tie a neighborhood design together.

"It will be a huge help," said Della Pella of the new street lights.

City is hoping to begin installation of the street lights near the end of summer.

For more information, call Dena Peel of City Light at 684-3637. (