Castroville celebrates its new sign with a hopeful take on the future.

Erik Chalhoub here. Having seen Castroville’s new sign and arch for the first time in person today, July 10, I can say that pictures don’t do it justice, as it’s much larger and more eye-catching. I could spot it far in the distance as I pulled onto Merritt Street from Highway 156—it sets a welcoming tone for travelers rolling through town.

Work to replace the sign began in 2021, when then-General Manager Eric Tynan told the Castroville Community Services District’s board of directors that the arch’s poles were rusting from the inside and needed to be replaced.

The district received a $500,000 grant from the state’s Clean California program for a new sign and arch, and contracted Prunedale-based Signs by Van for the project, a company that’s created countless signs throughout Monterey County and beyond.

The sign is far from the only upgrade coming to the small North County town.

Caltrans’ $40 million Castroville Improvement Project will, among other things, rehab the pavement, reconstruct sidewalks and add pedestrian crossing aids on Merritt Street/Highway 183 from Del Monte Avenue to the intersection of Highway 1.

As officials cut the ribbon underneath the sign today to celebrate its completion, they immediately grabbed their shovels to mark the ceremonial groundbreaking of the project.

Monterey County Supervisor Glenn Church said millions of tourist dollars pass through Castroville on their way to the Monterey Peninsula or Santa Cruz County. The infrastructure improvements and beautification efforts could go a long way in capturing some of those dollars in the town, he said.

“People don’t realize the history, the cultural importance of this community, or even that this is the artichoke center of the world,” Church told a crowd of more than 100 people gathered at the intersection of Merritt and Preston streets Thursday morning. “I think we are all hopeful that the work that’s going to be done here is going to open the doors to business opportunities, jobs and increase the quality of life.”

But what’s going to happen to the old sign? It’s a point of contention from some comments I’ve heard from Castroville residents.

Castroville Community Services District General Manager James Derbin says the district’s board will hold a public meeting on Tuesday, July 15 at 4:30pm to gather feedback from the community on what they would like to see happen to the sign (which is actually four signs put together as it was renovated and repaired over the decades).

What do you think of the new sign? And what should the district do with the original sign? I’m curious to hear your thoughts.