‘Welcome to Ardenwald’ sign returns!

The “Welcome to Ardenwald” sign in the traffic island on S.E. 32nd Ave. at S.E. Meek St. has returned! Ardenwald-Johnson Creek Neighborhood Association Co-chair Jeff Davis repaired the sign for some time and installed the sign late last week.

Since June 30, 2010, only two brown post stood in the traffic island after the sign was broken into several pieces from vandalism. One of the sign posts later was apparently struck and sustained minor damage.

Ardenwald has two signs installed, with the other sign located on a terrace along S.E. Johnson Creek. Blvd. between S.E. Brookside and S.E. 43rd Ave. A third sign is planned for installation along S.E. Tacoma St., however, the sign has not been approved for installation because it does not meet the City of Portland’s sign code.

Each hand-crafted sign costs about $1,100 apiece.

On New Year’s Eve in 2009, the same Ardenwald sign on S.E. 32nd Ave. was destroyed after a delivery van struck the sign located in the center lane traffic island. The company reimbursed the costs for the sign replacement and post mount repairs.

Photo: The repaired “Welcome to Ardenwald” sign on S.E. 32nd Ave. Bryan Dorr, Sept. 19, 2011.