‘Welcome to West Memphis’ — finally

‘Welcome to West Memphis’ — finally

It’s been a long time coming, but greeting signs are going up

news@theeveningtimes.com

A generation in the making, a monumental undertaking, the latest and greatest technology available, all in two new signs, showing soon every night on a levee top near you – Welcome to West Memphis, the signs. A pair of long awaited welcome to West Memphis signs are just about ready for their premiere.

Northbound Interstate 55 and westbound I-40 travelers will now know that they know that they are in West Memphis – Arkansas.

The sign project started with Advertising and Promotion Commissioners representing the dining and hospitality businesses in the city who said tourists often just did not know where they were. The A& P committed $150,000 for the set.

“Everyday I hear people ask, ‘are we in Memphis, or are we in Tennessee here or Arkansas,’” said local hotel owner and A& P Commissioner Mike Patel.

Commissioners agreed and the convention and visitors bureau searched off and on for a generation for a plot of ground to post the signs.

Late last year Convention & Visitors Bureau Execu- tive Director Jim Jackson gained blessings from both the St. Francis Levee District and the Army Corps of Engineers to place welcome signs for travelers coming into the city from across the river.

This new greeting to the Gateway City made a huge impression on City Treasurer Frank Martin.

“Once you see this sign up, you got to say it’s big!” exclaimed Martin.

There can be no mistaking where you are now. The huge monument sized base are 13 yards long and the colorful light bar inspired logo spires to 22 feet.

“There is no way, people won’t know they are in West Memphis, and that is what we wanted,” said City Councilor Ramona Taylor.

The sign is not only big, bright and colorful but soon to be bodily lit. Solar panels will mount to the back of the monument base and interior LED lighting will backlight the entire transparent signboard.

“The solar panels for both signs are awaiting painting,” said Jackson. “The solar panels will be mounted on the back side of the signs and the finish will blend into the sign base color.”

The CVB and A& P commissioners have received positive feedback on the first sign.

“It’s almost all positive, like 99 percent positive feedback,” said Jackson.

The sign on I-40 is about a week away from lights. The sign for those coming of the old Arkansas-Memphis Bridge was slated to be erected next week.

“I’ve been assured all the work will be complete by the weekend,” said Jackson.

By John Rech