A council discussion about improvements at Fountain Park led to a conversation about possible LED event signs along Shea Boulevard.

Among the upgrades to Fountain Park are new low level bollard lighting along walkways in the park, upgrades to the east parking lot, interpretative signs and monument signs.

The council was considering authorization of the design for the improvements when the discussion wandered into the realm of signs.

Staff has suggested that one of the monument signs to be installed along Saguaro Boulevard have an LED board to announce upcoming park events.

In discussing that issue council members raised concerns about the LED lighting in the park environment and wanted assurances any signage would not be too bright to interfere with nearby neighbors or dark skies.

However, the council seemed to embrace the idea of similar signs along Shea Boulevard as being beneficial to the town in promoting events and activities.

Vice Mayor Cassie Hansen said there should be some discussion as to where a lighted monument sign would work best. She suggested a location along Saguaro near Avenue of the Fountains.

Councilman Tait Elkie asked that staff look at options that would be visible to those walking through the park, but not necessarily large enough or bright enough to be visible from a distance.

Councilman Cecil Yates suggested a consultant might be able to provide the best ideas for a total sign package.

Town Recreation Supervisor Bryan Hughes said staff believes the LED signage is a good option to explore for Fountain Park, and possibly along Shea.

“We have no budget for anything along Shea at this time,” Hughes said.

Town Manager Ken Buchanan jokingly suggested staff would look into an LED sign to be held by the next statue of a president to be placed in the park.

The council did authorize staff to proceed with a design for the park improvements. The plan calls for about $1.5 million in improvements to be split over two fiscal years.

The remaining work at the park would include the installation of pathway lighting along the perimeter walkway, expanding and improving the parking lot on the east end, installation of interpretive signs and construction of monument signs.

Hughes said the lighting would be fixtures spaced about 20 feet apart along the walkway.

He said there are a number of people who like to walk through the park in early morning hours during the winter or later evening in summer that would benefit from the lighting.

“We see a number of people wearing headlamps or carrying a flashlight now,” Hughes said.

The plans for the east parking lot include new and revised curbing, a new refinished asphalt surface, entry gates on both driveways and light standards.

The plan also calls for enlarging the parking area.

Plans call for the installation of 12 interpretative signs to be installed around the park. The signs would explain viewpoints and various park operations.

There would also be signs for park rules.

The three monument signs would be located on El Lago at the playground parking lot entry, at El Lago and Panorama Drive and on Saguaro at the north end near the amphitheater.

Hughes said staff would work with the consultant on the design and bring a proposal for council consideration back in a few weeks. Construction could be scheduled to begin during summer 2014.