GROVES — Driving into the city of Groves will soon be a bit more recognizable with the addition of four new ‘welcome signs.’
The new metal signs tout “Welcome to Groves” with the words “family, community, opportunity” across a pastoral blue sky and two pecan trees.
“Our current (welcome) signs are worn out and were in need of an upgrade. They are made of plywood and are painted and redone a few times,” Groves City Manager D. Sosa said. “This is 2015 and we have new materials and new technology.”
The folks at Armadillo Graphics worked with the city with input from the Groves Beautification Committee to find the best design to represent the city. The one main feature they wanted was a recognizable pecan tree.
Olivia Wellings, a trustee with the Groves Beautification Committee who has been part of the organization from its inception, is pleased with the new signs.
“We wanted to feature the pecan trees because that is what Groves is known for,” Wellings said. “The new signs are really nice.”
The four new signs have been ordered and are expected to be installed some time in August. The cost is $500 each and they are expected to be maintenance free and last 10 years. The new welcome signs will replace the old ones at Hogaboom and FM 366, Texas 73 access road near Wells Fargo, Hogaboom and Texas 347, and off the Texas 73 access road coming from Bridge City into the city.
The wording — family, community, opportunity — was a well thought out idea, Sosa said.
“These are three things the city council wanted to make sure we represent. We are a small community, we value families and there are opportunities to build and raise a family here,” he said. This is the social fabric that keeps everything strong.”
Sosa gave kudos to the GBC who were the ones who placed the welcome signs around the city more than two decades ago.
“We have to give credit to the Groves Beautification Committee. They’ve done a lot for the peace and dignity of the city,” he said. “They started 20 years ago with not much more than a few people and not much funds to speak of.”
It was actually the GBC that alerted the city the signs were in need of repair or replacement, he added.
The GBC is a non-profit organization formed in 1997 and dedicated to improving the overall appearance of the community. The group keeps the corner of 39th Street and Main Avenue clean and landscaped, maintains Celebration Park at the corner of Lincoln and Coolidge and sponsors numerous events throughout the year.
“They have a very good outlook and a unique finger on the pulse of what’s important to the city,” he said.
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