Travelers entering Naperville from Bolingbrook along North Weber Road are now greeted with a "Welcome to Naperville" sign, emblematic of the city's 50-year-old logo featuring a large tree with water running underneath. In a recent development reported by the Chicago Tribune, the installation is part of a beautification project with a price tag of $100,000.
City spokeswoman Linda LaCloche expressed appreciation for the creative opportunities this project granted to the Department of Public Works. "This project gave them a little more stretch of the creative muscle," she told the Chicago Tribune. The monument sign, a limestone-base structure topped with a synthetic tree, is set to be finalized with native plants and pollinators come spring.
Digitally inclined residents might be disappointed to learn that no electronic billboard features atop Naperville's new sign, in stark contrast to Bolingbrook's approach where digital displays are prevalent and owned by Community Digital Displays to show local advertising and share village information. A former council was not interested in those types of signs, aiming instead to create a "notable" welcome for Naperville visitors, as per LaCloche’s comments published by the Tribune.
Meanwhile, as noted by Positively Naperville, the question of updating population numbers on Naperville's signs remains current. With the city's rapid growth and the aftermath of the 2020 Census, talks of introducing signs reflective of Naperville's true size have circulated. Proposals for new signs have historically been mired in disagreements over design and placement. Still, there appears to be a push for pragmatically designed, welcoming signs at every entrance to the city – a nod to Naperville's growing stature and rich history.
The potential for reflective welcome signs stresses the practicality that characterizes Naperville. Suggested signs, quaint in their elegance, could bear the city's population on a replaceable plaque, accommodating future changes, "Imagine a simple sign at every entrance to Naperville. No glitz. No flashing lights. Nothing fancy. Just a nice, neat sign," was the vision painted by Positively Naperville.
While the new Naperville sign emphasizes tradition over technological flair, discussions surely will continue to feature the future – whether to further embrace digital advancements or to cling to reminders of the city's historical roots.
