Medford has just paid tribute to its civic leaders with a new plaque in the heart of downtown. Locals and visitors can now find this homage at "Mayor's Plaza," adjacent to the "Salmon Flight" fountain at the epicenter of West 8th Street and South Oakdale Avenue. The installation features a collection of 42 tiles, each representing a different Medford mayor, chronologically spanning 1885 to 2024. As the City of Medford explained in a press release, "Dedicated to the mayors of Medford for their service and contributions to our community," the plaque stands as a gesture of gratitude for over a century's worth of local governance.
With the old plaque showing battle scars from the elements after possibly several decades of exposure, officials decided it was time to refresh and honor the past with clarity and luster. Thus, the move to replace the weathered marker was about maintaining the physical façade and preserving the history it represents. The new tribute, swiftly forged by Big Sign FX, wasn't a budgetary burden thanks to the Council Community Initiative Fund. This fund, enriched by marijuana tax revenue, ensured that the $5,788 price tag wouldn't negatively impact the city's wallet.
Integral to this update haven't just been the creators but also those who turned the vision into a concrete reality—literally. Behind the scenes, working away from the limelight, the Parks, Recreation, and Facilities’ maintenance team took the helm regarding installation. Their hands worked in sync with the vision of community recognition, gently embedding each mayor's legacy into the plaza's soil.
