Fundraiser today to bring in money for gateway signs

The Waterford Beautification Committee, in conjunction with the Waterford Area Chamber of Commerce, has taken up the torch to raise funds to replace the gateway signs at the Waterford Township border.

To that end, a fund-raising event will be held today, Wednesday, Feb. 2, at the Big Boy restaurant on M-59 at Airport Road between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. Owner George Henney promised to donate 10 percent of the proceeds during that time period to the cause. During the event, there will be prize giveaways and raffles.

“This has been a grassroots effort to bring about the importance of Waterford,” said Township Treasurer and Beautification Committee member Margaret Birch. “It makes a statement that we are moving forward while trying to improve the aesthetics of the community.”

The Waterford Beautification Committee has already ponied up $13,000 for the first gateway sign, which is nearly completed.

“We are fund raising for the rest of the signs. They aren’t being paid for with Waterford Township funds,” Birch said.

The move to change over the signs from wooden signs to an aluminum make-up has been a priority in the making for nearly three years. The goal is to replace the trio of signs currently located at M-59 and Williams Lake Road; Dixie Highway near Andersonville Road; and Dixie Highway at Telegraph Road.

The first sign is expected to be erected sometime in early spring at M-59 east of Williams Lake Road.

The new state-of-the-art aluminum construction is built with a breakaway system for safety. The contemporary design is overlayed by two-dimensional water waves in varying blue hues.

“It’s just beautiful. I haven’t seen anything like it anywhere else,” Birch said. “Once people see the sign up, we’re hoping they’ll be more apt to contribute.”

Birch added that each sign will be insured.