City of Bowling Green Historical Sign Project Wins Placemaking Award

The City of Bowling Green is proud to announce recent success, winning the Best Placemaking Award presented by Heritage Ohio at their annual awards ceremony on Oct. 15. This honor was given for Historical Interpretive Signage, which was installed downtown in 2024. Under Main Street America, Heritage Ohio honors the people, places and projects that exemplify a commitment to growth through preservation and revitalization. The Best Downtown Placemaking is presented to an individual, organization and/or municipality that is actively engaged in efforts to enhance their downtown's appearance with the intention of creating public spaces that promote people's health, happiness, and well-being through a program of streetscape improvements. Heritage Ohio shared in a statement,

"The Bowling Green Historic Preservation Commission brought local history to life by installing 16 interpretive signs throughout downtown, sharing the city's rich heritage - from its "Crystal City" glass era to its booming oil-town past. Funded in part by a $18,000 Certified Local Government grant, the project united historians, volunteers and community partners to make Bowling Green's story visible and accessible to all. The signage initiative has strengthened local pride, expanded public education, and ensured that the City's history will be remembered for generations to come."

The Historic Preservation Commission was awarded a Certified Local Government Grant in 2023. A subcommittee of local historians and partners collaborated to formulate sign topics, research local history, find historic pictures and determine the best locations. The signs were installed on July 17, 2024, and a dedication ceremony to honor and highlight the signs was held on Aug. 16, 2024. The project was made possible in part by a federal grant from the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, administered by the State Historic Preservation Office of the Ohio History Connection.

Learn more about the Historical Interpretive Signage.