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A helping hand in
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Work on hospital is no stretch
|
A welcoming sign |
City applies for grants to recreate
gateway signs at the east and west entrances into downtown Newberg |
By Gunnar
Olson, Newberg Graphic reporter
E-mail Gunnar at
golson@eaglenewspapers.com
|
Downtown Newberg is more than a stretch along Highway 99W.
This is one motivation the city has in trying to find funding for
new gateway signs to welcome drivers as they enter Newberg, from
both directions, on Highway 99W. That is to say, on East First or
Hancock streets.
“Wow – I’m in Newberg” is the type of reaction City Planner Barton
Brierley said he is hoping the project will get from drivers.
“Hopefully they would understand they’re in a different kind of
travel environment, where they’re going to see pedestrians and stuff
like that.”
The city of Newberg is applying for a grant from the Oregon
Transportation Enhancement Grant Program that would cover most of
the cost of the signs. Brierley said the state would probably
announce the grant winners late this year.
There would be three components to the improvements. A welcome sign
would be erected near where Highway 99W splits by River Street, on a
small island of property bordered by the turnaround lane from East
First to Hancock. The city would first have to purchase the small
plot from the state.
Another component of the project is a pair of signs on the west end
of Newberg, at the southwest end of the Chehalem Creek bridge. The
signs would be a recreation of a pair of historic welcome signs from
yesteryear. The planning department isn’t certain on the former
location of the previous welcome signs, but has in its offices the
stained glass from the signs, which it hopes to use in the new
signs.
The third part of the project is a series of trees on the northwest
side of Highway 99W between the Hess Creek Bridge and Morton Street.
The type of trees are undetermined.
There are $7.9 million in funds now available through the state’s
enhancement program. Newberg is asking for $358,112. The total
estimated cost of the signs is $399,100. Funding for the rest of the
project – about $40,000 – would mostly be paid for by a $20,000
donation from the Early Bird Rotarians club and nearly $17,000 worth
of man hours at the city.
The idea for the signs came about under the city’s now defunct
urban renewal district, which was repealed by voters several years
ago. “This was a funding source to do that,” Brierley said.
For more specifics regarding location and design, visit Newberg
City Hall at 414 E. First St. |
|
From Aug.
25,
2004, Newberg Graphic
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