by Rina Rien, Director, Casa Grande Main Street
Last fall, Casa Grande Main Street placed second in a national online voting campaign to win $144,000 to build the Casa Grande Neon Sign Park. This project is supported by a grant from the American Express Partners in Preservation program, a partnership of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the American Express Foundation. Funds are earmarked for restoration of vintage and neon signs and upgrades to the Arizona Plaza site owned by the Kramer Family of Casa Grande Valley Newspapers in Historic Downtown.
Since the inception of our partnership with the Casa Grande Historic Preservation Commission, the Museum of Casa Grande and local business Coxon’s Building Materials have donated additional signs for restoration and installation that include authentic landmarks that once dotted Old Highway 84. The first signs nearing completion include The Horseshoe Motel, Arizona Edison and Goddard Shoe.
When completed, the park will serve as a unique pedestrian connection between the commercial district and the Arts and Culture District. It will light up the night downtown as an evening destination and generate interest in adjacent business opportunities for restaurant and entertainment venues. As of this printing, we should be near ground-breaking, with a lighting ceremony for the opening planned in early 2019.
MAKE YOUR MARK ON THE NEON SIGN PARK
We wish to thank over 40 local businesses and families who’ve supported our “Make Your Mark on the Neon Sign Park” founders campaign. To date, we have raised over $10,000 to sponsor sign plaques, tailgate benches and other features to enhance the ambience of the park. We still have opportunities for $100 pavers on the Founders Walk and $250 historic license plates on the Founders Wall. Need more information? Contact Casa Grande Main Street at (520) 836-8744 or email: downtown@cgmailbox.com
JOIN US FOR NEON NIGHTS!
Stay tuned to our calendar and join our text or e-newsletter service to learn more about upcoming evening events themed “neon” leading up to our lighting ceremony for the park.
Casa Grande Main Street is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization working on downtown revitalization and historic preservation. The Main Street program is designed to improve all aspects of the downtown experience. Strengthening public participation and making downtown a fun place to visit are as critical to Main Street’s future as attracting new business, rehabilitating structures and expanding parking options.
