Wayfinding signs popping up in Newton

As part of Newton’s comprehensive plan, wayfinding signs have began popping up across the community in the past month. The signs, designed to have style as they direct tourists, have an overall look to compliment the Get To Know Newton brand.

“As part of the creation of the Get To Know Newton brand, the professionals involved in that came up with complementary logos and color schemes and then also designed what a wayfinding sign could look like that complements that brand,” said Erin Chambers, the city’s director of Planning and Zoning.

The signs will be located in areas that direct out-of-towners and tourists to points of interest in the city. The high school, Maytag Park and downtown are examples of locations that will be on the signs. Additional attractions like the Iowa Speedway and Westwood Golf Course will also be included on the signs, as they meet the Department of Transportation’s criteria of a tourist oriented entity.

Chambers said the DOT has a specific requirements for signage, especially in intersections such as Highway 14 and First Avenue West. The city sign ordinance also does not allow for off-premise signage for private businesses, putting limits on what can be on the wayfinding signs.

“The city council made a specific effort and said that we want to support this, we want to see this project happen,” Chambers said.

A total of $250,000 was set aside by the council with approximately $50,000 going to the wayfinding signs project. More than 40 signs will be placed throughout the city, with some intersections having multiple signs facing different directions. Work on wayfinding signs began close to 10 years ago with Renew Newton before it was reintroduced with the comprehensive plan.

“Renew Newton had scoped this out as a project they wanted to see happen. They went through the effort of looking at intersections and what locations we would want to have on a sign,” Chambers said.

Through the comprehensive plan implementation process, Newton’s future committee was established and work began on those projects. A specific wayfinding subcommittee was formed and it began work on making the signs a reality.

After a bidding process, Sign Pro of Newton was awarded the project from sign creation to installation. Starting in the fall, poles were installed and in the last month it began placing the signs. The project does not have a specific end date, with weather being a factor in getting the signs up.

“Once the new wayfinding signage is complete, we will take a look at all that existing wayfinding signage and remove the duplications,” Chamber said.

Contact Jamee A. Pierson at 641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com