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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2015
Stockton implements IDOT Wayfind signs to attract visitors to its downtown By Tony Carton Editor
STOCKTON — Months of planning and hard work resulted this week in a pair of Wayfind signs strategically placed near the intersection of Highways 20 and 78 for the purpose of directing visitors to downtown Stockton. “We’ve just installed the Wayfind signs that we got approved through IDOT, said Randy Pepin, who spearheaded the drive to get the signs and worked for the last two weeks with Dan Pepin to install them. “These are directional signs to get people to turn off of Highway 20, head south on Highway 78 and visit downtown Stockton.” Geographically situated as the gateway to historic and scenic Jo Daviess County, Stockton is home to dozens of privately held small businesses and is struggling for a piece of the “tourism pie.” The new Wayfind signs have been researched and planned for placement to guide and inform motorists unfamiliar with the area. “This sign project came about through the MAPPING program,” Pepin said. “This was identified almost a year ago and it’s been a long process to get the signs, but we did it, they’re up and it’s going to be awesome for our downtown.” The Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs’ MAPPING The Future of Your Community program is a participant driven strategic planning process where local leaders and citizen volunteers create a long-range vision for the future of their village. Members of Stockton Strong, the organization formed through MAPPING, and the Stockton Chamber of Commerce signed resolutions more than a year ago asking that the county dissolve the two Jo Daviess County marketing bureaus and create a new organization tasked with delivering a
singular voice for travel and tourism throughout the county. They also asked those bureaus to recognize Stockton as the gateway to the county, but little or no action is noted on either request. As if in response to the county’s inaction, the Village of Stockton has begun its own efforts at recognition and the Wayfind signs are among the village’s efforts. Other projects include Movie nights in Stockton’s park, a weekend long Art in the Park event, a highly successful Barbeque competition, a new downtown mural, participation in the All River Road Talent monthly art drives, Paint and Sip events, and expanded Fourth of July and Christmas Walk projects. “We feel if we can get just one car a day to turn to our downtown, that’s 365 cars, but if we can get ten cars a day to turn the numbers would be outrageous,” Pepin said. “That’s what we’re looking for; just a little bit more tourism in our downtown would be an awesome thing for all the different businesses, not just retail businesses, but the service businesses as well.” Stockton resident Amanda Pierce designed the Wayfind signs. Pierce operates Creativeations, a design firm and sign shop located in downtown Stockton, specializing in quality and effective designing with a focus on its customers and finding the right solutions for their businesses. “Randy approached me months ago about doing the signs and he gave me the information that was to be included,” Pierce said. “We decided to stay with the Stockton school colors. We took the Chamber logo that we had and we incorporated it into the Village of Stockton in an effort to brand the community. She said she is very pleased with the finished product and expects to see increased traffic in the downtown area. “I think the idea of attracting ten more cars a day to our
The Stockton Community Choir to present ‘One Small Child’
Tony Carton photo
Randy and Dan Pepin install one of the new Wayfind signs directing visitors to the downtown Stockton businesses
but forat the other businesses scattered If you’re not your last throughout the village and along High20 asnot well.” at your la If you’re job, why iswayyour 401(k)?
downtown is a great idea,” Pierce said. “It will be good for our economy and not just for our downtown businesses,
job, why is your 401(k
L Simonson Let’sAshlie schedule your Financial Advisor Ashlie L Simonson Financial Advisor 304 E North Avenue year-end review. Suite #200
STOCKTON — The Stockton Community Choir presents “One Small Child” on Sunday Night December 6, at Calvary United Methodist Church at 7 p.m. The community is invited to a great night of music to remind us of the reason for the season.
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Ashlie L. Simonson Financial Advisor
304 E North Avenue Suite #200 Stockton, IL 61085 815-947-6090Stockton, IL 61085 815-947-6090
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