Cosmo lends paw to Cougartown makeover

PROVO — Motorists didn't seem to mind the mascot blocking traffic on University Avenue.

Though many honked their horns, the accompanying hand gestures all were friendly.

Cosmo, the Brigham Young University mascot, lent a paw to Provo's Cougartown makeover Wednesday afternoon, assisting city workers in the painting of a "Y" in the center of the intersection at University Avenue and Center Street.

Cosmo waved to onlookers and motorists, joked around with Mayor Lewis K. Billings and even did a little work. The mascot seized the workers' paint-spraying wand and filled in a stencil to create the 10-by-14 1/2-foot white "Y." The city crew added a blue border and later, without Cosmo's assistance, painted the logo on five other intersections along University Avenue: 300 South, 500 North, 800 North, Bulldog Boulevard and University Parkway.

The new-look University Avenue is part of the Cougartown project, a collaborative effort between the university, Provo city and local businesses to generate community support for BYU athletics.

"It will be fun for people who love the Cougars to drive University Avenue and see these big block 'Y's," Mayor Billings said.

Crews spent about 30 minutes painting the "Y" at the Center Street intersection, and workers were expected to have all six logos painted in about four hours, said Scott Peppler, Provo public service director. The logos were applied using the same fast-drying paint used on the city's crosswalks, Peppler said.

The city will be reimbursed for the cost of the intersection painting — estimated at $3,000 — by Corporate Alliance, the Provo-based business networking company that is spearheading the Cougartown project.

"(Corporate Alliance) basically wants to expand on the spirit we have in Provo for BYU, and the city wants to be completely supportive of that," Billings said.

On Sept. 1, the mayor read a proclamation declaring that Provo will become Cougartown every Saturday BYU plays at LaVell Edwards Stadium.

On those days, Provo's borders are dissolved, the mayor said, and every BYU fan around the world becomes a resident of Cougartown.

Flags will be put up along University Avenue today as Provo prepares to transform into Cougartown for BYU's Homecoming game Saturday against Colorado State.

"I think it's good for community spirit," said Dita Dekeyser, who watched as the "Y" was painted at Center Street. "I think we need to build on that."

"I think it's a great idea," fellow Cougar fan Maren Chipman said of the painted logos. "It gets people more excited, gets them thinking about the football team."

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