The second of Great Bend’s official entrance signs is in place, Community Coordinator/Convention and Visitors Bureau Director Christina Hayes said, addressing the City Council Monday night. 

It is at the west entrance into the city on U.S. 56 near Railroad Avenue.

“You’ll want to drive by and check that out,” she said. “It looks really great.”

The first sign, at the northern city limit on the west side of U.S. 281, was put in place in July 2020. 

In December of 2019, the council approved a bid from Marks Custom Signs for a total of $38,724. Hayes stressed that funds for the signs will come from the Thelma Faye Harms Trust and will not cost the city anything.

Both of the signs are on federal highways and required KDOT approval.

Hayes said the next step for the CVB Board is phase two, which involves the creation of wayfinding signs. “That’s going to be a lot more in-depth because we have lots of different locations and we have to decide designs and pricing.”

A third welcome sign on the east side is in the works after the expansion of U.S. 56 is completed, but that is down the road. 

It would be a part of phases three and four, which involve more entrance signage, Hayes said.