City begins wayfinding sign installation

The first of the city's wayfinding signs is scheduled to be installed this morning.

Nixa-based Modern Neon will install the first sign near Springfield-Branson National Airport, on the west side of Airport Boulevard south of the traffic roundabout. The sign aims to guide travelers to the three city districts represented in the program: the Battlefield/Glenstone retail corridor, the Bass Pro retail area and downtown.

The sign program is supposed to increase awareness of the city's major retail destinations, and identify parking options in those areas, according to a city news release. It is mostly funded by the quarter-cent capital improvements sales tax and is expected to cost more than $604,000 for design, fabrication and installation. The sales tax covered just less than $500,000 of the total cost.

Eventually, 97 signs will guide visitors to destinations including Hammons Field, Walnut Street, Jordan Valley Park, Commercial Street, JQH Arena, Park Central Square, Ozarks Technical Community College, Springfield Expo Center, Discovery Center, Springfield Art Museum, Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts, Government Plaza and Missouri State University.

“This is a very effective and common program in cities that host a significant number of visitors as Springfield does for special events, conventions and sports events,” Tracy Kimberlin, president of the Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau, said in the release.

Signs will start at the entrances to the city - at U.S. Highway 65, Missouri Highway 13 and James River Freeway - and continue through the city. The program also includes 15 information kiosks at entry points to downtown and Commercial Street.

Installation should be complete by early April.[[In-content Ad]]