Temple City council gives staff direction to prepare Live Oak Park playground sign with lighting and foundation provisions

Council members on Dec. 3 reviewed monument-sign concepts for the Live Oak Park playground and gave staff direction to prepare the infrastructure needed to install a sign while keeping the final aesthetic and naming decisions open for later review.

Adam (city staff) and Ryan McKay of SWA presented two design options: a vertical, rocket-shaped monument with double-sided graphics and optional uplighting, and a thinner, folded-wing metal panel meant to be read from both front and back. Ryan said the signage would "honor the site's history" and would include interpretive text about the playground features and a dedication panel for project contributors. He said construction/installation estimates for the sign fell in the roughly $27,000–$32,000 range depending on complexity.

Council members focused discussion on three practical questions: whether the sign should be a branded name for the playground or a simple informational entry marker; whether the sign should be lit; and whether to place one sign at the parking-lot entry or install two signs. Council Member Sternquist said, "I like the concept I think it would be important to have it lit," and Council Member William Man said he supported the signage and lighting but was skeptical that an immediate brand name was necessary: "I'm not a fan of the name I think it should be nameless... the community will naturally come up with a name." Several members suggested the community could be invited to propose a name later.

On placement and timing, staff recommended installing the sign at the park entry from the parking lot so it functions both as an entry marker and as a short interpretive exhibit. Because the sign was not included in the original construction line items, staff proposed creating a contingency line and "stub out" provisions (concrete blocking and conduit) during the current construction phase so the final sign can be installed later without cutting new paths. Staff said doing the stub work now would avoid later disruption.

Council indicated broad support for the idea of a sign, for locating it at the entry, and for including uplighting; members asked that the project stay within the cost range presented. The council did not adopt a final design or vote on a specific sign tonight; instead it directed staff to proceed with infrastructure preparations and to return with refined designs (and options for additional concepts) for further vetting by the ad hoc committee and the council.

The project team said that building the foundation and running conduit now would allow the city to finalize the sign fabrications on a timeline that may extend past the playground opening, if council prefers more community input or additional design variations.