By Bailey Buckingham

After years of talking about it, Kyle will soon gain a gateway sign that welcomes visitors to the city. 

The city’s newest landmark will become a reality after the Kyle City Council unanimously approved installation of the sign in late July. Council approved the design of the sign, which was chosen by Kyle city staff. 

Kyle City Manager Scott Sellers said the sign’s adaptability helps leave room for Kyle to continue to explore what the city’s brand is and what the city stands for.

“(The gateway sign) is simple, yet elegant, it is unique and embraces the future while also embracing the past,” Sellers said. “It’s interchangeable, so as the city continues to grow and redefine, the sign can change.”

Discussions have occurred over the years regarding a gateway sign, according to a city presentation. 

A brainstorming committee within the city staff worked together to choose a design and formulate a plan to erect the gateway sign, which will be located along Interstate 35. 

Sellers said the design chosen has been well received within city staff and the city council members. 

Sellers said the sign could potentially help defer thousands of dollars city spends to market itself. He said the gateway sign reaches exponentially more people everyday. The visual story tells more than anything could be said in print, Sellers said. 

“There are over 100,000 people that drive through Kyle every day,” Sellers said. “These motorists have basically one opportunity to make a judgment on what Kyle is about and the city has one opportunity to make a wonderful impression on them.”

Sellers said the sign needed to tell the story of Kyle to those who pass by it. Part of the problem in coming up with a design is having to figure out what the city’s brand is, Sellers said. 

Sellers said another component is the affordability of the sign. With the way regulations are written, the city can have signs on both sides of Interstate 35 coming into the city. 

The city currently has $75,000 allotted for the construction of the gateway signs. Sellers hopes to begin with two signs and continue to build more in the future. 

“We needed a sign that was affordable and easily replicated and this sign design,” Sellers said. “I’m hoping we can get two signs erected from the budget we have to work with.”