The City of Belton had 41 district identity signs installed Thursday morning.
The city has been planning for these signs for about a year now.
Robert Potts, a co-owner of Cochran, Blair and Potts, is a 7th generation business owner of one of Belton’s downtown department stores.
"From when I was a kid, I remember a lot of empty buildings, but now that's not the case. There's a lot of exciting things that are happening, and I really think it has a bright future," Potts said.
The future is so bright, the city wants to make an investment.
"We've never really had a district identity for our downtown," Erin Smith, the Director of Planning for the City of Belton, said.
City leaders want to change that by adding 41 new signs that will grab the attention of drivers and redirect them to downtown Belton.
"Twenty-two of those are identify parking areas. There are 12 vehicular directional signs, and then a total of seven gateway signs located on Interstate 35, I-14 and Loop 121," Smith added.
The gateway signs are mainly aimed at the people who say...
"'Wow! We had no idea you had such an amazing downtown. We've driven by on 1-35 several times and had no idea.' So, we want to get those people off of those interstates, bring them into Belton and show them what we have to offer," Smith said.
"It's very exciting to see the investment that the city's making in downtown through the facade grants and now with the new signage. It's really going to draw new people in," Potts added.
And a great deal of thought went into the planning and design of the new signs.
"The blue symbolizes Nolan Creek which runs along our downtown and the star symbolizes downtown which is the heart of Belton," Smith added.
There are other colors that will mark your way as you walk or drive through downtown Belton.
The red points people to city facilities, blue is for county facilities and public parking, green is for retail and restaurants and purple will guide you to UMHB's campus.
The signs cost the city nearly $197,000.
Crews should have the signs installed in time for the 4th of July parade which draws in 30.000 to 50,000 people each year.
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