MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – The Middletown Area Merchants Association is seeking concept sketches for a gateway to Middletown.

The gateway will span 15 to 20 feet wide and be about 12 to 18 feet tall.

It will be installed on the east side of Highway 29 in the open space near Perry’s Deli. This is not an arch over a road as much as it is an artful welcome to Middletown.

Design motifs or elements should include, or be inspired by one or several of the following: Mountains, trees, rustic, rural lifestyle, expansive skies and stars.

Materials should be sturdy and durable including metal or stone, with the possibility of a stone or concrete base for planters, or planters built into the design.

The committee is open to any combination of durable materials and design elements.

The gateway or arch should say “Middletown” or “Welcome to Middletown.” The design should also include a feature to hang banners from to inform the public of what’s happening in Middletown.

For this preliminary phase and call for work, a hand-rendered conceptual sketch or thumbnail is requested. Two or three submitted sketches will be selected by the MAMA Board and MAMA Beautification Committee to move on to the next phase.

In phase two, a small stipend will be provided to flush out selected designs, in a preliminary fashion, for community input and fundraising.

In phase three, the selected design concepts will be reworked, developed and engineered for safety and longevity.

Preliminary concept sketches are due no later than Saturday, March 14, via email or US post.

Please send scanned sketches or photos of sketches to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or mail to P.O. Box 1616, Middletown, CA 95461.

For questions, email is the same, or call 707-809-8118 and someone will return your call.