CASA GRANDE — Casa Grande Main Street has been awarded the 2020 James W. Garrison Heritage Award.
Every year, one of the 10 Governor’s Heritage Preservation Honors Award recipients is chosen to receive the James W. Garrison Heritage Award for efforts to preserve Arizona’s history, a press release from Casa Grande Main Street said.
Casa Grande Main Street was selected for the award in recognition of its efforts to preserve Casa Grande’s unique history through the construction of the outdoor sign museum, the Neon Sign Park, located at 408 N. Sacaton St.
Although Casa Grande Main Street has received Governor’s Heritage Preservation awards in the past, the most prestigious is a first-place honor with the James W. Garrison Heritage Award, the press release said.
The Neon Sign Park also received the 2019 Arizona Great Place Award from the Arizona Chapter of the American Planning Association.
“Without the help from many organizations and the community, Casa Grande Main Street knows that the Neon Sign Park would not be the amazing community space that it is,” the press release said.
The 2017 Partners in Preservation grant, sponsored by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, along with Main Street America and American Express, was key along with the support of various organizations in helping the Neon Sign Park become a reality.
“Additionally, Casa Grande Main Street is thankful for leaders such as Marge Jantz, Rina Rien, Donovan Kramer family, Casa Grande Valley Newspapers Inc., Casa Grande Historic Preservation Commission and the city of Casa Grande for their outstanding efforts in the creation of the Neon Sign Park,” the press release said.
With the COVID-19 pandemic still affecting businesses and income, Casa Grande Main Street is seeking donations to help make up for lost income to maintain the Neon Sign Park. For more information on the Neon Sign Park and how to donate, visit www.neonsignpark.com.
