“This enhancement to the gateway intersection will benefit the community as a whole by further defining our identity and character. Ultimately, we want the visual appearance of the crossroads intersection to look more than just well-maintained; we want it to be identifiable,” said Scott Allison, director of Planning and Zoning for the City of Richmond Hill. “The concept we submitted to the DOT illustrates intentional landscaping and aesthetic elements to further the significance of this gateway in our community.”

The intersection of SR25 and SR144, the primary crossroads connecting travelers to most of Richmond Hill’s city offices and community gathering spaces, is a four-way stop less than a mile west from what is considered the city center. Currently developed with primarily commercial property, it is the City’s desire to make the intersection unique and memorable, and become the “coming together” point of distribution for most people traveling to the city. A landscape theme will be implemented on all four corners that will have a consistent and simple application of plantings and architectural features to reflect the character and welcoming nature of the community.

“It has been a long term objective of the Richmond Hill City Council to improve the aesthetics of the Highway 144 and Highway 17 intersection,” said Russ Carpenter, City Council member and Mayor Pro Tem. “This effort will improve property values of adjacent businesses, attract more visitors, and provide for a better looking and greener entry into town.”

GATEway, an acronym for Georgia Transportation Enhancement, is a program administered by GDOT and is available to any organization, local government or state agency for landscape enhancement of the state right-of-way that involves the local community, displays the right-of-way in an attractive fashion and promotes pride in Georgia.

“The better we look, the better we feel,” said Johnny Murphy, Richmond Hill City Council member. “Dressing up our community has the same rewards. New landscaping will improve the way we feel about our town.”

Eighty-three applications were submitted. Project proposals ranged from interstate interchange panoramas to landscape embellishment of city entrance signs. Forty-three submissions, including the City of Richmond Hill, were funded in the first round of awards after review by the Roadside Enhancement and Beautification Council.

The Council is comprised of 12 members, appointed by the Governor. Members include the chairperson of the Senate Transportation Committee, the chairperson of the House Transportation Committee, the GDOT Deputy Commissioner, a member of the Georgia Conservancy, a member from the Garden Clubs of Georgia, Inc., a member of the faculty of the School of Environmental Design at the University of Georgia, a member from the Sierra Club, a member from the Georgia Wildlife Federation and four members of the Outdoor Advertising Association of Georgia, Inc.

Any organization, local government or state agency can apply for a grant up to $50,000 contingent upon authorization by a local government and an agreement to perpetually maintain the project. A primary goal of the GATEway Grant program is to fund enduring enhancements to roadsides utilized by the traveling public.