Flags complete North Shore streetscape

by Marianne Gasaway

The final touches have been made to one of Clear Lake’s major street reconstruction projects.

Just in time for the holiday weekend, city crews installed banners on the decorative light poles along North Shore Drive between City Park and the Surf Ballroom & Museum.

City Councilman/Mayor Pro Team Mike Callahan spearheaded the project for the city and the banners were unveiled at the Monday, May 20 Council meeting.  Twenty-one decorative street light poles will display banners.

City Administrator Scott Flory noted a number of trees had to be removed

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during the street work and the banners, along with tree replacement, were seen as a way to enhance the streetscape.

“He (Callanan) was the guy, more than any other, that promoted this opportunity, in conjunction with the North Shore Drive Street Reconstruction Project,” said Flory.

The banners were custom designed and created by a small work group working with RDG’s graphic design division.  RDG Design, of Minneapolis, has been the brainchild of several recent Sea Wall and City Beach area improvements in recent years.

“The group wanted something unique and particularized to Clear Lake that would promote the many wonderful events and amenities that we are privileged to enjoy here,” explained Flory.

One banner, honoring the late Mr. and Mrs. Dean Snyder, will be placed in front of the Surf Ballroom on one of the poles by the marquee.  This will also feature Dean’s notable quote about the “fishing pole.”  In  1994, the Snyder family purchased the Surf Ballroom and restored it to its former glory.  When asked about why he chose to purchase the Surf Ballroom, Snyder thought of his wife, Joanne, and said, “If she liked to fish, I would have bought her a fishing pole, but she liked to dance, so I bought the Surf.”

Other banners reference Clear Lake events and attractions, such as the July 4th celebration, Harvest Fest, the CLASS Car Cruise and, of course, the lake.

The public can look forward to the addition of smaller pedestrian banners which will go on the sidewalk side of the pole and feature a factoid about the community.

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