In the downtown area and along Main Street, city crews last week installed signs that direct visitors to business districts, City Hall, Tonganoxie Water Park, schools and parks.

Another sign was constructed last month at the Leavenworth County Fairgrounds. The fairgrounds sign, on the north side of Kansas Highway 16, has three lines for letters that can be changed to display various events throughout the year.

Cheryl Hanback, who is a member of Tonganoxie Retail/Commercial Development Committee, worked with other committee members and various agencies to determine regulations for the signs. The blue signs can be seen along U.S. Highway 24-40 and K-16, as well as Main, Fourth and Washington streets.

She said feedback has been good.

“I talked to a couple people today and I thought they looked great,” Hanback said. “It’s really nice to see how they really help direct people through the downtown,” she added, “that they can get all the way through downtown and back on to 24-40 and show where some of the resources are.”

The signs were designed to serve as a guide to visitors of where business districts and other amenities can be found throughout town. Hanback said the signs also could direct potential business owners to the city’s business districts.

Tonganoxie Mayor Jason Ward said the city has received “a number of positive comments” from citizens about the signs.

He said the signs also help direct people to the downtown area.

“I know that was one of the goals was to call people’s attention to the fact we have historical buildings in town,” Ward said. “And for those travelers who don’t know Tonganoxie, I think it’s a great opportunity to draw them in and learn a little bit about the city.”

A few signs were installed late last year along U.S. 24-40 and one on K-16. The five signs along the highways, from Miller Sign Shoppe in Bonner Springs, cost $3,475. The latest installment of 24 signs was purchased for $7,412.

It’s a project on which RCDC members have been working for several months.

The committee, which has a $10,000 annual budget through the city, works on various projects each year.

Other projects the committee has spearheaded in recent years include brochures promoting Tonganoxie businesses, as well an overall visitors’ brochure. The group also created the website gotonganoxie.com to promote the community, as well as the decorative blue Tonganoxie banners that can be seen throughout downtown.

Featuring the fairgrounds

Another prominent sign can be found at the Leavenworth County Fairgrounds.

A 9-foot tall sign that reads “Leavenworth County Fairgrounds” in white on a red background can be seen from K-16.

The sign’s removable letters, which allow for changing messages, will be an added bonus, said Mike Kissinger, member of the Leavenworth County Fair Board Association.

“It will help us enhance our events,” Kissinger said. “If there’s anything going on at the fairgrounds, we can put something special on the sign.

“It’s a nice addition, and we really appreciate it.”

The sign, built by Young Sign Company in Leavenworth for about $5,000, was part of a beautification project spearheaded by the 2012-13 Southern Leavenworth County Leadership Development Class. The group also painted the interior of the 4-H building. Some class members are looking to do additional renovation projects at the fairgrounds.

Kissinger said the fair board hopes to add Leavenworth County Fair logos to the base of the sign. Flowers also might grace the area around the sign’s base.

“We’re going to throw that out to a 4-H club to do some landscaping,” Kissinger said.