Entrepreneur proposes commercial sponsors on trail signs

SPANISH FORK — Placing commercial messages on trail educational signs is an idea that grew out of an Eagle Scout project, Jared Ballard says.

Ballard developed a system of placing educational signs along city trails that teach about animals, flora and fauna native to the area. Each sign also displays the name and sponsor of the message.

Ballard proposed putting up 24 signs along the Spanish Fork River trail and asked the City Council this week if he could have a link from the city's website.

It's a way to promote trail systems without government money, he said. Trail visitors could then access his website, www.discoveringtrails.com, where they could learn more about a particular animal or plant and also get information about the sponsor, including a link to the advertiser's website.

The website also includes downloadable information, including worksheets, which may be of interest to schoolchildren. Some of the advertising money generated from the program would go back to city coffers, Ballard suggested.

Mayor G. Wayne Andersen suggested Ballard first start with the Chamber of Commerce to see how much business interest is there.

— Rodger L. Hardy