New signs and designs proposed for downtown P.A.

Aug 15, 2017 | 1:18 PM

A city association is hoping new signage will help people find their way downtown.

The over $32,000 proposal came before city council Monday. The Prince Albert Downtown Business Improvement District (PADBID) director Rick Orr pitched the idea and said the organization had already fundraised roughly $15,000 during last year’s This Place Matters campaign. He requested dipping into the downtown reserve fund to cover the additional costs.

He said the signs would “allow for a distinctive look in downtown.” Agenda documents show 34 wayfaring signs and one large entrance sign would be installed. 

A large brick sign would be located at the corner of 15th Street and Central Avenue, bear a ‘Welcome to Downtown’ message, and measure ten feet by six feet. Designed for vehicle traffic, the waypoint signs would direct towards major civic facilities and some would have art on the backside.

While on board with the proposal, Coun. Ted Zurakowski had mixed feelings.

“I like the directional signage but it says nothing about our local businesses,” he said, adding many people have told him if they “knew P.A. had a downtown, I would have stopped for a coffee rather than the franchisee coffee location.”

He suggested additional signage or alternative measures to help reroute traffic off major thoroughfares towards central, locally-owned business.

Orr said this was already “part of this plan,” saying some of the new signs will be propped up along Second Avenue., 15th Street and Sixth Avenue East. He also acknowledged that PADBID was interested in further promoting downtown businesses and said further work with partners was needed.

Council voted to carry the proposal and sent it off to the city’s financial services department.

 

tyler.marr@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JournoMarr