The Pearland Economic Development Corp. is installing monuments at key spots along thoroughfares at the city limits. Notice that the letters "Pearl" in "Pearland" are in a lighter shade than the rest of the name. That's intended to help newcomers know how to pronounce the city's name instead of saying "Pearl land."
One way a group is fighting that irritating 'Pearl land' mispronunciation
Motorists in various parts of Pearland may have noticed gateway monuments popping up over the past few years along major thoroughfares at high-profile entrances to the city. And there's a special reason why the word "Pearland" on the structures is in two shades of green.
The monuments are part of an effort by Pearland Economic Development Corp to create a sense of place and community and improve the appearance of key roadways.
Since 2016, the PEDC has erected eight gateway monuments that each feature the name "Pearland" and cost about $200,000 to design, purchase and install.
You'll see them at spots along Cullen Parkway - the site of the first one - Broadway and Main Street (Texas 35). Another sign is being installed on Scarsdale Boulevard.
The nonprofit corporation,which is primarily funded by a half-cent city sales tax, plans eight additional markers to be erected over the next few years.
EDC vice president Brian Malone said the monuments, which light up at night, are intended to do more than serve as city-limit markers.
"We want people to come into Pearland and we want them to invest not only personally but also commercially with their businesses," he said.
Using color shades to prevent a common mistake
PEDC marketing director Melissa Black said the signs also were designed to eliminate confusion about the city's name to those who aren't familiar. She said a common mistake people make when they first see the city name is to say, "Pearl land."
To combat this, the city markers were designed so that "Pear" and "Land" are in different shades of green, highlighting the distinction.
PEDC President Matt Buchanan said that once the Scarsdale sign is erected, the process will slow for a while, with future monuments to include planned markers on FM 521 where road construction is likely.
"We've made a good dent in this project over the last few years; so we are going to wait on those," he said. "It doesn't make sense to put this investment in now if road work means we would have to move (the markers)."
The PEDC has also focused on improving roadway corridors, turning many areas from "unkempt and untidy," according to Malone, to attractive green spaces by adding decorative elements such as pavers and trees in place of patches of weeds. Before and after images can be seen in this powerpoint presentation.
Work has been completed on Cullen Parkway from Clear Creek to Freedom Drive; along Texas 35 from the Beltway to Broadway; on Kirby Drive from the Beltway to Clear Creek; on Pearland Parkway from Clear Creek to the Rotary building, and on Texas 288 from the Beltway to Magnolia Parkway.
Pears off the highway
The city and the Pearland EDC will erect eight large marker signs, complete with a pear logo, on either side of Texas 288 within the city. Toll lanes in the median of the highway are expected to open this summer.
Malone said the signs will be over 60 feet tall, with each featuring a large pear at the top and lit to be visible at night.
Pearland has invested in city signs in the past but, because of growth, those markers now sit inside city limits. Buchanan said most have been removed.
"We have a unique product (with Pearland), and we want people to know where it starts and where it stops," he said. "The previous signs didn't show that, but we've done that with these."
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The Pearland Economic Development Corp. is installing monuments
