Neighborhood project: Entrance sign

The sign at the entrance to my neighborhood was showing its age and began to fall apart after 40 years welcoming residents and visitors to our part of Plymouth.

I led a project to replace it with a new sign, intended to last another 40 years, or more.

I wanted to ensure that the project was inclusive and respected the work and efforts that other neighbors had put in before me with landscaping and upkeep. I invited neighbors to join a team to consider different aspects of the project: design, placement, landscaping, etc.

Little did we know how big of a project it would become. It turns out that we would not be able to replace the sign in the same location because it was impeding safe views of CR24. That led to a whole new element to the project: figuring out where the new sign should go and securing the permission to put it there.

I worked with the neighbor whose lot the sign sits on. and arranged for a survey to be taken of the lot. We looked into the regulations on placement (with both the city and county because the corner abuts a county road and a city street). Once we knew where we could place the new sign, we worked with an attorney to draft an easement agreement with the neighbor to grant the neighborhood the right and permission to use a 10x10-foot area of their yard.

Meanwhile I a worked with some design-minded neighbors to draft some ideas and concepts for the look of the new sign. Then we conducted a feedback session at Night to Unite and took a neighborhood-wide vote for a favorite design.

I gathered a group of neighbors to remove the old sign and the overgrowth that was around it. We carefully treated the buckthorn stumps to prevent them from growing back in the future.

We worked with the city to secure the proper permits for the sign and make sure everything was compliant. This would ensure that the sign will remain for years to come.

Once the area was clear we could install the new sign!

Later, we had fresh topsoil delivered along with a bunch of boulders to begin landscaping the area.

It was a big project and it took a long time but the process was collaborative and the result was stronger community, new friendships and a great looking sign that will last for years to come!