'Welcome to Galloway' Sign Unveiled

Any confusion visitors may have had entering Galloway Township in the past has been cleared up. The sign has been in place since Friday, and now it’s official.

Galloway Township now has one, brand-new “Welcome to Galloway Township,” sign, to replace the 22-sign eyesore that once greeted visitors to the township.

The sign was officially “unveiled” Tuesday morning during a ceremony at its location on Jimmie Leeds Road at the exit for the Garden State Parkway.

Richard Stockton College of New Jersey President Herman J. Saatkamp and AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center VP Hospital Administrator Charisse Fizer were both on hand.

Stockton and AtlantiCare split the cost of the sign, which was set at $13,000. Emblazoned across the top of the sign are the words, “Home of Stockton College and AtlantiCare.”

“It’s very important to have this sign so people can figure out where the hospital is,” Fizer said. “The way it was, there were a number of signs, and people were not able to tell where it is.

“Before, people coming in from North Jersey would go to Atlantic City and they would drive right past (the Mainland Center in Galloway).”

She commented that the sign makes the town appear more uniform in its presentation.

Previously, 22 signs lined the side of the road, most of which weren’t approved by the township. Those signs have been replaced by one large sign with the business names on it, and arrows pointing in the direction of each business.

There is also a temporary, “Home of the ShopRite LPGA Classic” sign set up to the left of the main sign for those exiting the parkway.

“It’s perfect timing,” said Mayor Keith Hartman, referencing ShopRite LPGA Classic Week, which began Monday.

The project was coordinated by Councilman Tony Coppola and carried to fruition by Township Planner Tiffany Cuviello and Township Manager Steve Bonanni.

“It’s something people have been talking about for years,” Coppola said before the project got underway. “You come off the parkway and you see a mess of signs. It would be really nice to have one ‘Welcome to Galloway’ sign. Well, we finally got some bids and we awarded one.”

And in about six weeks, the sign went up, and all confusion has been eliminated.