More funding may come for new sign
By Chris Simon

Photo by Chris Simon

Innisfil could be spending more money on its newest highway sign.

A town committee passed a recommendation to spend $10,000 adding trees and outdoor lighting to a new sign located on Highway 400 and the Innisfil Beach Road overpass, during a meeting last week. While the new funding must still be approved by council, the town has already spent about $22,000, while community partners have donated thousands of dollars more for the beige and black coloured sign, said Innisfil mayor Brian Jackson.

More funding is needed, to increase the sign's visual appeal, he said.

"In order to finish the project and achieve the maximum visual benefit from the investment, I suggest that council consider funding this work," said Jackson. "The community partnerships and donations already invested in the project have been significant and I believe it is imperative for us to finish the work in a professional manner."

A local landscape supplier has tentatively committed to providing three or four large sized trees, while the town has also received an estimate for the cost of illuminating the sign.

"This would allow us to move forward, have the tree landscaping done and the sign illuminated," he said. "It shows off very well and this just finalizes that."

Councillor Lynn Dollin says she has received comments from residents over the placement of the sign, which is located near the centre of the municipality. Although standard highway signs are usually placed near the border of smaller municipalities, it's becoming common for a more elaborate posting to be placed in the centre of larger towns and cities.

"It's very common for the town to have one sign in the centre, as opposed to two at each gateway," she said. "The way that intersection is laid out, it lends itself to that location."

Dollin said several municipalities in the eastern section of the province have similar sign placements.

The sign location was also chosen because of strict provincial government regulations, said Jackson.

"This was the only approved location for this sign," he said. "We've gone through a lot of hurdles to get to this point. The (province) has control of that roadway and they were very specific on the type, wording and setback of the sign." 

Innisfil council could be spending $10,000 to place trees and lighting around the new town sign, which is located at the Highway 400 and Innisfil Beach Road overpass. The town has already spent $36,000 on the project.