New Welcome Signs Put Laurel Gardens "On the Map"

Two new signs welcoming visitors to the Laurel Gardens neighborhood were uncovered Thursday morning—one on Sixth Avenue near the intersection with Rochester Road and the other on Seventh Street near the intersection with Babcock Boulevard. 

Dayle Miller, a resident of the neighborhood for 42 years, came down the hill to watch the the unveiling. She said she was really pleased with them. 

"It's gorgeous. That's us," she said of the design. 

Her daughter, Cindy Richey, also a long-time resident of the neighborhood, agreed. 

"No one knew this was Laurel Gardens," she said. "Now they know. We're on the map." 

The identical signs, measuring 48 inches by 96 inches, were purchased using a $10,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, awarded in 2006, according to Township Manager Wayne Jones. 

Although the Ross Township Board of Commissioners gave the order for the signs, the designs were never submitted and the signs delivered, said Ross Township Commissioner John Sponcer, who represents the Laurel Gardens neighborhood. 

"I found them by mistake," he said. 

He said he discovered references to them in the minutes of meetings while he was doing research before his run for commissioner. He said he filed a Right-to-Know request and learned that they were paid for, but not yet ordered. 

"I went to Wayne. I said let's put them up," he said. 

Of three designs presented to the community awhile back, Sponcer chose the one that he thought would work best. 

"If they don't like it, I'm going to be the bad guy but at least someone put them up," he said. 

Richey said she has no complaints. 

"They're classy," she said.