The City of Hollister’s call for design concepts to establish the west entrance to the City of Hollister as a gateway to both the city and Pinnacles National Park has been extended to Oct. 23. The project is open to residents, artists, students, design professionals and architects. Compensation is not provided at this phase of the project.
The city in May received approval from the San Benito County Council of Governments (COG) for the use of $50,000 in local transportation funds to create a gateway sign promoting Pinnacles National Park and the so-called “West Gateway” to Hollister. Leadership San Benito County in 2010 initiated the design of a hospitality sign at the intersection of Highway 25 and San Felipe Road on Hollister’s north side. That was primarily funded by the former Hollister Redevelopment Agency.
A report by Mary Paxton of the Hollister Development Services Department said that the open and anonymous design competition format “allows for a large number of submissions and will help stimulate ideas about possible entry features.” She said there “is not an obligation to select one of the designs submitted,” though the information could be used to “clarify concepts for proceeding with … a refinement of the design.”
City Manager William Avera in May said officials hope the designs will reference Hollister’s proximity to Pinnacles and mention “any of the the other things the city of Hollister is known for.” He also said the design can be for a sculpture “or any other artwork,” not just a sign. He added that the city is “a little bit behind the eight-ball from the perspective of publicizing” Pinnacles, which he said has seen “a huge increase” in the number of guests since it was changed from a national monument to a national park.
For more information on the competition, click here.