Residents will have their first opportunity at an April 2 public meeting to glimpse the scenic byway logo and gateway monument designs that their ideas helped inspire.

After gathering public input and inspiration last fall, the Whidbey Scenic Isle Way Steering Committee is now ready to present logo options and gateway concepts to generate even more input.

The informal meeting will be held Wednesday, April 2 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. in the commissioners’ hearing room in Coupeville. Public comment submitted at the meeting will spur further design refinements.

The byway logo signs will be installed along highways 20 and 525 on Whidbey Island and the gateway monuments will be constructed at the three portals on Whidbey: Clinton, Keystone, and in the vicinity of Deception Pass State Park.

The Whidbey Scenic Isle Way is a cross-island scenic byway that affords travelers with some of the most beautiful scenic experiences in the country, including panoramic views of open fields, forests, historic landscapes, Puget Sound waters, and the Cascade and Olympic mountains. Byway representatives are committed to not only enhancing experiences for visitors to the island, but also to the stewardship of the unique qualities of the byway and preserving the quality of life that Whidbey Islanders cherish.

“We are very excited to present the Isle Way gateway and logo design options to the public,” said Allisa Carlson of Otak, Inc., the design firm working on the project. “This project is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the Isle Way and scenic beauty of the island.”

As the lead agency for the Whidbey Scenic Isle Way, Island County was awarded a federal grant for the development of a byway logo to reinforce the identity of the scenic byway and gateway monuments to welcome visitors to the byway. Public involvement has been an integral part of the process.

County representatives have been working closely with other local agencies on the project, as well as with the Scenic Byway Steering Committee. The purpose of the logo signs is to reinforce the byway’s identity to visitors and island residents and to serve as a “wayfinding” element to guide travelers along the byway. Logo signs will be combined with other highway-related signs as much as possible to minimize signing along the scenic byway.

The gateway monuments will also reinforce the byway’s identity while welcoming visitors and residents to Whidbey Island. The gateway design concepts include ideas such as tall architectural columns, monument-style walls and signs. The public will choose from a range of options.

The construction budget for each gateway location is approximately $25,000. The three gateways will consist of elements that visually tie them together, including the byway logo, and the use of certain materials.

Monuments will be carefully and sensitively designed to fit cohesively within each setting and to minimize impacts on the scenic landscape. Durability, maintainability, visibility, and public safety are also important considerations in the design.

For more information, contact Mike Morton at Island County by phone at 679-7331 or by email at mikem@co.island.wa.us. Carlson may be reached by phone at 206-224-7221 or by email at allisa.carlson@otak.com.