Advertisement

New wayfinding signage going up in Monona

Error message

  • Warning: array_merge(): Expected parameter 1 to be an array, bool given in _simpleads_render_ajax_template() (line 133 of /home/pdccourier/www/www/sites/all/modules/simpleads/includes/simpleads.helper.inc).
  • Notice: Trying to get property 'settings' of non-object in _simpleads_adgroup_settings() (line 343 of /home/pdccourier/www/www/sites/all/modules/simpleads/includes/simpleads.helper.inc).
  • Warning: array_merge(): Expected parameter 1 to be an array, bool given in _simpleads_render_ajax_template() (line 157 of /home/pdccourier/www/www/sites/all/modules/simpleads/includes/simpleads.helper.inc).
  • Notice: Trying to access array offset on value of type null in include() (line 24 of /home/pdccourier/www/www/sites/all/modules/simpleads/templates/simpleads_ajax_call.tpl.php).

The Monona Community Visioning team’s first project, updated wayfinding signage, will soon be up in 10 places around Monona. (Submitted photo)

It was the fall of 2015 when Monona Chamber & Economic Development, Inc. (MCED), on behalf of the city of Monona, was awarded a grant for a year-long series of technical advice and data studies from Iowa Living Roadways Community Visioning program, Trees Forever, IDOT, ISU’s landscape architect program interns and Jeffrey L. Bruce & Co. landscape architects. At that time, Monona’s Community Visioning team was made up of 14 volunteers of all ages and walks of life from around the community. Today, eight remain onboard. Together, with the public’s input and approval, the steering committee worked last year to develop enhancements and beautification projects designed to make a positive difference in the “Garden City of Iowa.”

After the grant term ended in December 2016, the Community Visioning team prioritized its long list of projects and selected wayfinding signage as its first project. These wayfinding signs will help Monona’s guests and visitors find general public locations around town. 

With all good intentions years ago, the city started this project, bought and installed poles and wayfinding signs in a couple of test locations, but the mountings soon proved to be no match for Monona’s blustery winds. With help from the visioning program’s landscape architect and a Waterloo engineering firm, the visioning team acquired a sturdy mounting device made of forged metal and black in color, to match the fluted sign poles the city owned. 

The team met a few more times to propose 10 sign locations and assemble the 20 unique directional messages. The wayfinding signs were designed to complement the city’s logo that continues to brand the visual appeal of Monona. The highway billboards were modeled after it, and the logo may one day grace all entry signs leading into towns and parks.

A final wayfinding sign was rolled out to the city council and audience on April 17. Two people from the visioning team were present and assumed the signs would be installed in the next few weeks. However, it was the very next afternoon that the city and its street department installed the first sign at the northwest corner of Iowa and Main Streets, attesting that these solidly-engineered metal mountings will, without question, hold up to the wind. 

Monona’s Community Visioning team worked hard to see its premier project and vision become a reality. Thanks to all of the education, technical advice and assistance they received from various resources, soon they’ll be taking on their next vision.

For more information about this or future community projects, or to join the visioning team, please contact Rogeta Halvorson at  MononaChamber@neitel.net, (563) 539-8340 or stop in at the MCED office at 103 W. Center St., in downtown Monona. Any help will be appreciated; just tell the group what you’d like to do.

Rate this article: 
No votes yet