Case study October 2026
McFarland, CA
EverGen
A once-overlooked strip of land now provides a safer, more inviting route for pedestrians and cyclists, with solar lighting the way.
For years, a narrow property on the east side of Highway 99 in McFarland, California, was little more than a dirt path cutting through a grass-grown field. Wedged between a residential neighborhood, railroad tracks, and a highway, the space wasn’t exactly inviting.
But that didn’t mean it was unimportant. The property formed part of a well-travelled pedestrian route leading to the McFarland Bridge, a pedestrian overpass spanning the highway and connecting the east and west sides of the community.
In 2023, the City of McFarland set out to transform the space into something far more functional and inviting. The roughly half-mile project replaced the dirt path with a paved multi-use trail and added trees, landscaping, gardens, and recreation areas.
A central goal of the project was turning an informal path into a safer, more practical connection for people walking and cycling through the area, including after dark. But with no electrical infrastructure nearby, conventional lighting would have required extending grid power from the street across the property, requiring trenching, wiring, and significant added cost.
Solar offered a simpler, more affordable alternative. Standalone systems could provide lighting along the trail without the cost and disruption of installing underground electrical infrastructure. And with the long, open corridor offering ample solar exposure, the site was well suited to solar lighting.
Working with California lighting agent SCL North, Sol supplied 23 EverGen-M solar lighting systems, installed along the length of the trail in May 2023.
Rather than operate at full output throughout the night, the lights follow a profile designed around trail use. They run at full output for seven hours after dusk, dim to 30% overnight, then return to full output two hours before dawn, providing bright illumination during the busiest hours while conserving energy overnight.
The McFarland Community Trail and Garden project has since earned wider recognition, including an America’s Transportation Award from AASHTO in 2024. What was once an underused dirt corridor is now both a route and a destination: a safer, more inviting way through the neighborhood and a public space that remains accessible day and night.
