Pleasant Hill seeks to mark its gateways

By Lisa P. White Contra Costa Times

PLEASANT HILL -- The boundaries separating Pleasant Hill and its neighboring cities are often winding and seldom obvious, often leaving visitors -- and even some residents -- unsure about which city they are in.

City leaders hope a project to design gateway monuments reflecting Pleasant Hill's identity and character will help define its boundaries, spruce up its entryways and enhance its economic vitality.

The City Council included in the fiscal year 2014-16 budget $75,000 for the design process and $200,000 for construction.

San Francisco planning and design firm Wallace Roberts & Todd has held two workshops to solicit residents' feedback about what the monuments should look like and where they should be placed. A third workshop is scheduled for Oct. 7.

Pleasant Hill gateway design option: Refurbished existing monument with image panels. (Courtesy of WRT Planning and Design)

At the first meeting, residents said they love the city's "small-town" feel, strong sense of community and acres of scenic parks and open space. Enhancing the appearance of Contra Costa Boulevard should be a priority, they said, and the gateways should "reinforce a sense of place."

Additional elements, such as directional signage, landscaping, murals or other public art also may be considered. The designers said the city might also explore adding a mural or water feature along the Interstate 680-Monument Boulevard overcrossing to make it more attractive to motorists and pedestrians.

Unlike Walnut Creek, which has a well-funded public art program -- the eye-catching golden head-shaped fountain in downtown has proved to be a draw -- Pleasant Hill does not.

During the most recent workshop, John Gibbs, a landscape architect and urban designer with WRT, described Pleasant Hill as a marriage between a traditional suburb and an urbanized shopping district with open space and rural elements.

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Pleasant Hill seeks to mark its gateways