OREGON — The Oregon Public Art Commission has presented a new design for city welcome signs and a plan to replace aging signs across the community over four years. Officials said the current signs have deteriorated due to weather damage and cannot be repainted because of cracked wood, and one sign along East Illinois Route 64 has already fallen. The proposal calls for replacing one sign each year and beginning with the east side entrance near Illinois Route 64.
Oregon City Manager Darin DeHaan shared the thoughts of the Public Art Commission last Tuesday.
“What they did not like about the old sign is the profile of the Black Hawk statue. They liked the side profile. And then the water feature made it look like it is a lake and we are on the Rock River. They still like the eagle because that is a big part of our community as well. Being able to see the eagles swoop over the Rock River,” DeHaan said.
City officials said the design would need approval from the Illinois Department of Transportation due to placement within its right of way.