SOAP LAKE — The Soap Lake Creative District has secured a nearly $39,600 Washington State Arts Commission grant to install new wayfinding signs throughout the downtown core; a project local organizers say will help visitors and residents navigate the community and strengthen the city’s visual identity. 

“What the signs will do is establish an identity for the Soap Lake Creative District,” Creative District Representative Ruthanne Tobiason said. “It will enhance the downtown Soap Lake experience by providing clear directional signage for both pedestrians and motorists.” 

The funding will cover materials for the signage. At the same time, the City of Soap Lake will contribute roughly $20,000 in labor, with Public Works staff installing the signs, according to previous City Council discussions. Tobiason said the grant will allow the committee to move forward after months of planning. 

The district is working with JC Wright Lighting of Spokane, the same company that installed the city’s streetlights. The state does not require a competitive bid process for the project, Tobiason said.  

The committee’s initial plan calls for eight wayfinding signs and three Creative District accessory signs, though the final number may shift once updated material estimates arrive, Tobiason said.  

The accessory signs would be mounted on light poles between Canna Street North and Division Avenue, a long stretch without cross streets, to remind visitors they are still within the Creative District. 

Tobiason said the project will also replace aging or redundant signs in the area. 

“We have some old, worn signage within the boundary of the Creative District… it needs to just come down,” she said. “We’ll be working with property owners… to remove their old signs and replace them with a nice new directional sign.” 

The new signs will follow the city’s existing branding guidelines, created during a 2017-18 branding effort that introduced the “Your Cure for the Ordinary” slogan and the green color used on the city’s welcome signs. 

“This will reinforce that branding, which is another way of establishing an identity,” Tobiason said. “The Creative District brand was modeled after the city brand… something that blends well together.” 

Tobiason said the district is still working on what each sign will detail and the final look, explaining these will be finalized when a final quote comes in from JC Wright Lighting of Spokane.  

“Depending on the cost of materials, we may have to change what we want to do slightly, one less sign, or whatever it may be,” she said. “So, we are waiting for that to be finalized before finalizing any next steps.”  

The Creative District hopes installation will begin around October, taking advantage of a seasonal lull for public works and before winter weather sets in. 

“We want to make sure we’ve got all of our materials identified, ordered… and that’s all ready to go by the time the summer season is over,” Tobiason said. 

Tobiason said research shows that clear, attractive signage helps visitors feel welcomed and signals that a community takes pride in itself. 

She hopes the new system will guide travelers from Dry Falls into town, pointing them toward the visitor center, sculpture installations, lodging, businesses, City Hall, the police department and the school. 

“People who are visiting town see that you’re a community that’s proud of yourself,” she said. “Something clean, easy to read and attractive. It’s something that really sets you apart.”