New signs are springing up in Norwood, in the name of both tourism and also safety.
Both the Town of Norwood and the Norwood Chamber of Commerce have been working with the West End Economic Development Corporation, an organization which is working to beef up branding and marketing efforts, and especially economic growth, in the regional area.
WEEDC, though based in the West End, is helping Norwood to showcase its strengths and places of attraction. Promoting local trails, the equestrian opportunities and the food community are becoming a priority in the mission.
Norwood’s Town Administrator Patty Grafmyer told town trustees in the August meeting that the town has been given a grant award for new wayfinding signs.
Grafmyer said the town and the Norwood Chamber of Commerce will help to match those funds, with each organization contributing approximately $2,500. The award will make the new signs possible.
According to Grafmyer, similar signs in Naturita and Nucla are quite appealing, and she said the new signs will be a great addition to Norwood. Local officials hope the signs will beautify the town, show community pride and guide visitors.
“That’s what we would do with maps and places we think people would like to visit,” she said.
Grafmyer said the Pocket Park in Norwood would also receive a new sign.
To increase safety and to also slow traffic on the school’s road, both the town and chamber have been discussing signage ideas.
In August, just in time for school to start, a new crosswalk and a four-way stop were established at the intersection of Summit and Lincoln streets and adjacent to Prime Time Early Learning Center.
The chamber has also been considering sponsoring flashing speed-limit signs on both ends of Summit Street to slow traffic. Chamber of Commerce President John Dotson has said some people traveling east on Highway 145 turn into Norwood at rather fast speeds, and that can be problematic. Summit Street is home to the fairgrounds, preschool and Norwood School.
The signs up for consideration would be stationary and solar-powered. A few citizens have expressed their opinions and concerns that additional signage may be too much for the street.
Still, Dotson said the chamber is happy to cover the signage costs if residents and the town want to see them established.
“Yes, we will if the town decides to install them,” Dotson said.
Grafmyer said the additional flashing signs cost $1,500 each, and those have not been ordered yet. She said a step-by-step approach in looking at the speeding issue can be taken for now.
Dotson also said the option of placing just one sign at the county building on the west side of Summit Street, closer to the highway, is another option.
Dotson will attend the Town of Norwood’s next monthly meeting, Sept. 13, to further discuss the issue and to offer the chamber’s assistance and support.
All are invited to the Chamber of Commerce’s monthly meeting. Those are scheduled the third Wednesday of each month. The next is Sept. 20.