Controversial 'Canoe' Sign: Is It Back?

The controversial "canoe" sign, as it has come to be known, has resurfaced on the agenda of tonight's Castro Valley Municipal Advisory Council meeting, which starts at 6 p.m. at the Castro Valley Library.

Intended to honor the town's agricultural roots, this specially commissioned art work has been warehoused since 1997, after having seen very little light of day. 

Despite opportunities to give input, the public seemed unaware of the $100,000 sign until it was installed on Redwood Road. Then, all H-E-Double-Hockey-Sticks broke loose and Alameda County took it down again, at public request.

Last fall, Castro Valley resident John Lindon asked that town leaders review the situation, pointing out that a survey found the public somewhat evenly split on the question.

"If you had to pay for it from scratch today, it might be another matter," he said in an interview today with Patch. "But given that $100,000 has been spent on it, we might as well put it to use. It’s a cool sign. It has character."

Lindon hopes tonight's discussion will center on other possible locations for the sign, if not Redwood Road.

Lindon describes the sign as having "Route 66" character: "wild west, down home, warm, welcoming, sort of funky."

The government isn't entirely in charge of the sign's fate. Contractually, the artist has full rights to veto a proposed use.