Destroyed Oak Park sign gets replaced




JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers WELCOME—Motorists entering Oak Park are greeted by a new sign.

JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers WELCOME—Motorists entering Oak Park are greeted by a new sign.


Motorists heading north on Kanan Road will once again know when they have entered Oak Park. A new “Welcome to Oak Park” sign in the Kanan Road center median near Tamarind Street replaces the sign that was destroyed last January by an Oak Park resident who crashed his Ferrari into it.

“It was important to replace the sign. It’s something everyone sees when coming into the community. It gives the community an identity, a formal gateway, separate from Agoura Hills,” said Mike Paule, vice chair of the Oak Park Municipal Advisory Council who oversees the community’s landscape committee.

The sign’s design, stone-framed dark wood and gold-lettering, is what residents wanted, Paule said, adding that the previous sign, which had a green background, was “dated.” Using input gathered from the community, the MAC determined Oak Park residents wanted something more neutral and modern.

“Picking out a color was challenging. I was holding my breath until I saw it up there,” Paule said. “I was pleased and relieved. We wanted it to reflect the will of the community, and I think it has.”

Style and color are not the only changes. The sign sits a little farther north than its predecessor to improve visibility for drivers turning south on to Kanan from Tamarind. Rose bushes in the center median will be removed for better visibility and to emphasize the Oak Park sign, Paule said.

“This is the only intersection all the way down Kanan where you don’t have a traffic light, which would be expensive to add,” Paule said.

Other input from residents involved landscaping and lighting. Shrubs and flowers will be added around the sign, and a tree will be planted behind it; Paule is looking into adding solar lighting for nighttime accent.

There have been several challenges in choosing a tree and finding sufficient lighting.

The landscape committee first wanted to plant an oak tree behind the sign, which Paule said seemed logical for a community named Oak Park. However, the Ventura County Transportation Department objected because oak tree roots could present a problem years from now for an underground water main, Paule said. Now the committee is considering planting a holly oak to match those planted on either side of Kanan.

As for lighting the sign, there is no electrical wiring in the median, and Paule has been unable to find strong enough solar equipment. The previous sign was not lit. The new sign is a darker color so it is harder to see at night, Paule said.

“It would be a nice touch if we could come up with the right solution,” he said. “Not a bright light, just enough to give a little illumination.”

The cost of the sign was about $7,500, less than the $13,000 to $14,000 that was expected, Paule said. Once several boulders in front of the sign are removed, and landscaping and lighting added, the total cost will probably be about $10,000, he added.

“The good news is that the individual who destroyed the sign was ordered by the court to pay restitution. He has to pay the county,” Paule said.

The sign is one aspect of an overall landscape improvement plan Paule is overseeing for the council to beautify the community’s public areas. In April, 34 trees were planted on the east and west medians along Kanan between Tamarind Street and Smoketree Avenue. Paule hopes to continue the project, which includes improving the medians on Kanan in front of Oak Park High School, but finances may delay work.

“With all of the costs, cleanup and repairs, we don’t have the budget to do it until next year. Our budget is up in the air,” Paule said. “Everyone’s really pleased with the enhanced landscaping we have been able to do. The landscapers have done a really good job.”

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