The City of Rohnert Park is working hard to  cement relations with Sonoma State University’s Green Music Center at the eastern end of RP Expressway. This time it’s a visual approach and not just campus-city council get-togethers.

It’s called “Way Finding,” city hall-speak for a sign program showing visitors and concertgoers the way to Green Music Center.
Marilyn Ponton, planning and building manager, presented the proposal to the city council July 24, and they unanimously approved it. The plan calls for five signs to be placed on RP Expressway from Commerce Boulevard east to Petaluma Hill Road and two signs on Commerce Boulevard. All seven will be on city-owned property. The city’s Public Works Dept. and Dept. of Public Safety have filed no objections to the plan.

On RPX, the signs will be at the intersections with Commerce Boulevard., State Farm Drive, Country Club Drive, Snyder Lane and Petaluma Hill Road. On Commerce, they will be on the northbound ramp to the freeway and south of Hinebaugh Creek.  The sign at Petaluma Hill Road may not be needed, dependent on SSU’s plan for signage here.

This Way Finding signage will be blue in color and consist of arrows at the top and the words Green Music Center. A second sign below will list Spreckels Performing Arts and Community Center, same size, but with slightly smaller type.

The rush is on to have these signs in place for the grand opening of GMC, scheduled for Saturday Sept. 29. On that date, well-known pianist Lang Lang, will be the featured performer. Both the city and SSU are hoping the signs can be fabricated and put in place by public works crews on city-owned property before Lang Lang’s appearance. GMC will begin its regular concert series with three performances in October.

Total costs for this Way Finding project is estimated to be $15,000. It would be less if no sign is needed at Petaluma Hill Road. Negotiations are underway to se if SSU could help defray the cost.

Nothing was mentioned about the Graton Rancheria’s tribal casino plan two blocks north of RPX on the west side of the freeway. If the current Way Finding signage plan works out, there could be a possibility of another Green Music Center sign on Stony Point Road and Wilfred Lane, aka, Golf Course Drive West.