Greenbank Farm Management Group officials want a bigger sign highlighting the entrance to the historic farm.
The group unveiled plans for a new sign during the Port of Coupeville meeting Wednesday morning.
The sign would be placed at the Greenbank Farm entrance near the corner of Highway 525 and Wonn Road.
“The goal here is to put up something that identifies an entrance,” said Richard Rhydes, an architect who offered to design the new sign.
Karen Hutchinson, president of the Greenbank Farm Management Group, said the new sign would be consistent with the farm’s historic character. Rhydes designed the recently-completed retail and office building at the farm.
The barn-style sign highlights the businesses operating at the farm. Two wine cask-like signs, placed on either side of the main sign, would announce the events and trails at the farm.
In addition to the sign, early plans also show a picnic area and a gravel walking trail along with a bus stop and parking. Hutchinson said the trail plans are preliminary. She added the trail is more an attempt to make the farm more walker friendly and make it easier for people to walk from the bus stop to the farm.
The proposed sign would cost an estimated $15,000, however management group officials hope some of that cost would be offset by donations.
One place where it looks to be difficult to find money is the Port of Coupeville.
Commissioner Benye Weber said the port won’t consider additional projects until she sees revisions to the port’s budget. The port is amending its current budget. It’s receiving less money than expected and recently provided $6,000 to renovate the caretaker’s cottage at the Greenbank Farm.
Several things have to happen before the management group will move forward with the sign construction. Hutchinson said she needs approval from the port and from Island County. The management group also has to raise money to pay for it.
She hopes the port will work with the management group to raise money.
A timeline hasn’t been set yet for the work, but Hutchinson said she would like to see the sign completed sometime in 2007, which marks the Farm’s 10th anniversary as a publicly owned entity.
