By OnMilwaukee Staff Writers   Published Sep 17, 2014 at 1:26 PM Photography: Bobby Tanzilo

If Milwaukee's lakefront looks a little bit brighter to you in the upcoming months, that's because it actually will be. 

This afternoon, Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele announced that lights along the lakefront will get an LED lightbulb facelift, thanks to the Innovation Fund – a $4 million program, put in the 2014 budget by Abele and approved the County Board, that uses land sale revenue rather than tax dollars to aid projects proven to help save money and improve the county's efficiency.

The bulb barrage will include upgrading 350 light poles along Lincoln Memorial Drive from high pressure sodium bulbs to LEDs. The switch should reduce the electricity use on the stretch by 50 percent – saving more than $14,000 in the process – as well as reduce the amount of maintenance time needed for the current bulbs.  

"Since taking office, we’ve been making big changes across the county to become more sustainable and efficient, this project and the entire Innovation Program highlights that progress," Abele said in a press release this afternoon.

"By moving to LED lighting, we save significant tax dollars every year, use less energy and improve the lighting along our beautiful lakefront."