Sunken Gardens Is Replacing Its Iconic Sign. Here Are 5 Things To Know About The Project.

Construction continues at Senken Gardens in St. Petersburg. Petersburg, laying the foundations for a new welcome signal.

S. If you were strolling along Fourth Street in Petersburg recently, you might have come across an interesting sight: bulldozers and the retro-looking welcome sign of the former Senken Gardens.

Don't worry, Migrant Gardens doesn't stop at street logos. 1825 Fourth St. Attractions Street (today) replaced the sign in 1990. Petersburg.

The iconic welcome sign at Senken Park in St. Petersburg has been destroyed, but a new one is being built. The new signature of this iconic tourist attraction promises to keep its iconic retro design. It should be on until Valentine's Day.

© Dirk Shadd/Tampa Bay Times/TNS The iconic welcome sign at Senken Gardens in St. Petersburg has been destroyed, but a new one is being built. The new signature of this iconic tourist attraction promises to keep its iconic retro design. It should be on until Valentine's Day.

Here's what you need to know about switches.

1. The new sign is a return to the beginning

The landmark first opened in 1903, when plumber and gardener George Turner Sr. bought six acres of land which included a flat lake, it was flooded. It later became one of the most popular roadside attractions in the area.

In Manton Giles, who died 1999, designed the Sinclair Park sign and probably installed it in the 1960s. Identical new 40" bright blue lettering sign installed March 2003. 1960's

Senken Parks Superintendent Director Dwayne Biggs said the original crossbar needed to be replaced, so the city agreed to take the opportunity to update the sign with neon and LED lighting.

The new sign will feature a V-shaped chevron and a 320-square-foot sign with 40-inch lettering. The update takes aside the flower drum, which has been removed in recent years due to structural issues.

"You don't see signs like that anymore," he said.

2. The new sign can be done immediately

Demolition began in early February and included the removal of the markings and the excavation of concrete 8 to 10 feet into the ground.

"[There are] two machines scraping off the concrete that's been in the ground since the '60s," says Biggs. "It was the good old days when reinforced concrete was the best of the best. So that was very challenging to do."

Although the design and installation of the sign is complicated, the municipal government still hopes to install a new one this weekend.

“You know, with projects like this and things that have been around for a long time, you're going to find some things that set you back a little bit,” Biggs said. But now it's fine.

3. The drawing tradition has its ups and downs

The Turner family put up an iconic sign to invite visitors to the landmarks along their route. But maintaining it is not always easy.

“The Turners have always had a history of something going wrong,” Jennifer Tyson, education coordinator and Sunken Garden volunteer, says with the materials we worked through.

Heat, humidity and storms all take their toll, making maintenance even more challenging.

“They definitely need a lot of love and resources to keep going,” Tyson said.

Even before the sign was replaced 20 years ago, the Turners have often exchanged flowers over the years. Signs have been updated to introduce new features to the park, including toucans, the Kachunga and alligator show, and the King's Wax Museum. These items are long gone, but visitors can learn about them at the new History Center, Second Heaven.

4. There's a push to preserve more of the city's historic landmarks

Migrant Gardens was a hit. Today, most businesses around St. Petersburg meet the simplest nameplate requirements.

"In general, current signage regulations do not allow for the height and size of the sign," said Elizabeth Abernathy, director of city planning and development services. "We have special provisions in our code for historical markers."

Bright neon signs once filled busy streets like N Fourth Street and US 19. But businesses have moved away from them over the years, said Derek Kilborn, who heads the city's Department of Urban Planning and Historic Preservation .

St. Petersburg has gone from a pedestrian experience to a vehicular experience. And when new, bright and easy-care materials appear, the old methods are useless.

The city is now looking for ways to preserve the historic paths that surround it.

"We're seeing a resurgence of interest in medieval design and architecture, and there's a focus on that kind of design," says Kilbourne.

In 2012, St. Pete's adopted new sections of its code to encourage the preservation of historic landmarks. In 2016, the Community Planning and Conservation Commission took an inventory of these landmarks, including places like El Cap Restaurant, Beef Burger, Derby Lane and the Sandman Motel.

If the signs are in a collection, the owner has more leeway than most to personalize or display them. The initiative has updated and positioned the World Liquor sign on Central Avenue outside Ferg's Sports Bar, Kilbourne said. This is what allows the zoo to continue the tradition.

5. This project is not cheap

The project, by Thomas Cigna Awnings of Clearwater, which includes new retro signs for St. Pete Pier designed it, took a year and cost $180,000.

Previously a privately owned attraction, Senken Gardens became city property in 1999 after voters approved the purchase. The $2.9 million fee comes from a one-time tax assessment.

The effort and money will be well worth it, Tyson said.

“It's similar to the reaction we had in 2003 when people were initially worried it was going to take off… and then there was so much relief and joy,” Tyson said. “In fact, it's one of the most popular things we've posted on our social media in recent years. We are so grateful to the people who made St.