It was pretty dangerous, probably even a little illegal, but the result of a clandestine effort was brilliant: La Conner’s Rainbow Bridge has lights again for the first time in a decade.

Mayor Ramon Hayes and the Town Council have been trying to figure out a way to get the bridge lit up for more than a year. At the last meeting, Town Councilman Bill Bruch gave an update: A contractor could bring a boom truck and string lights on the bridge with special clamps for under $50,000.

But two local men side-stepped all the bureaucrats and beat that price by about $49,850. They used tennis shoes...