Council was successful with a $91,850 grant under the Safer Communities Fund - Round 3 Infrastructure Grants from the Australian Government Department of Industry, Innovation and Science.

The lights were installed along a 500-metre stretch of the existing riverside footpath, which links the Kempsey-Macleay RSL Club to Riverside Park, the public jetty and the carpark behind Kempsey's new cinema.

Council's Manager of Commercial Business, Gayleen Burley, said the lighting project was part of a larger crime prevention strategy by Council to help deter anti-social behaviour and increase public safety.

"In 2018, Council received funding under Round 1 and installed a combination of CCTV and pathway lighting at Riverside Park and along a section of the riverside walkway," she said.

"This recent funding under Round 3 has enabled Council to complete this safety project by installing 13 additional lights along the riverside pathway.

"Mrs Burley said the park is one of the most popular and well-utilised public spaces in the Macleay with many community and market events staged there on a regular basis.

"With the opening of the new cinema in Kempsey last year and an increase in foot traffic, there was a need for council to ensure that public areas were made as accessible and safe for residents and visitors as they could be, particularly of a night-time.

"Since the roll out of the CCTV and lighting projects, there has been a positive increase in park usage from two twilight markets being held in previous years, increasing to 10 evening events."