GREENFIELD — The City of Greenfield is considering design concepts for two new entry gateway signs along Highway 101 to welcome visitors into the city, replacing the old signs that toppled over during storms this past winter.
SSA Landscape Architects of Santa Cruz, which has an ongoing contract with the city for landscape improvements around the Civic Center and at the Patriot Park ballfield and restroom areas, presented three designs for the new signs at the Greenfield City Council meeting on July 11.
“This is an exciting project because it’s such a prominent thing in the state of California,” said Steve Sutherland, principal for SSA Landscape Architects. “Everybody who drives from Northern California to Southern California or vice versa (will see the signs). They are landmarks.”
The city has maintained two entry gateway signs along Highway 101 at both the northern and southern approaches to Greenfield for many years. Both signs, however, fell over in January and February due to heavy rainfall and high winds.
Sutherland said the new signs — standing about 18 feet tall — would sit on a concrete foundation and be more durable, especially the first “rammed earth” concept. Rammed earth, also known as tapial in Spanish, is a technique in which walls are constructed using layers of natural raw materials, such as earth and gravel.
“The benefit of this option is that it’s the most durable of all of them,” Sutherland said. “We would engineer it so that it could withstand the winds and earthquakes. It would last easily 100 years.”
This ancient construction method would be combined with a contemporary sustainable design. The “City of Greenfield” lettering would be made of metal and raised from the sign surface to provide shadowing and depth, with LED lighting located along the base.
According to Community Services Director Mic Steinmann, the rammed earth design has the potential to grab the attention from passersby.
“This concept has the opportunity to really grab people’s attention as they’re driving up and down 101,” Steinmann said.
SSA Landscape Architects also presented two alternative concepts, including a traditional mission-style design with a stucco finish, Spanish-tile roof and a water-washed native stone base. These entry signs would be similar to the ones found in Soledad and San Miguel.
The third concept would be constructed of reclaimed barn wood in the shape of a rectangle with planting at the base to reflect the agricultural history of Greenfield.
Though most of the City Council appreciated the rammed earth concept, the consensus among members was for more colorful designs — perhaps in a barn style — that reflect the farming community.
“We’re a farming community, and if we could get something that relates to that, it would be really appreciated,” said Mayor Jesus Olvera-Garcia.
Under the council’s direction, SSA Landscape Architects will head back to the drawing board and present additional design concepts for the new signs at an upcoming meeting. Once a concept is chosen, final designs and construction documents will be prepared for the council’s approval. Steinmann said funding for the project will come from the city’s General Fund.
