CHARLESTON, W.Va. - You may have seen the white "Live on the Levee" banners hanging off light poles on the South Side Bridge and elsewhere in the city. You might have seen similar banners earlier this summer touting FestivALL.

But you probably don't know the city of Charleston has a new policy for hanging three types of banners to promote community and neighborhood events. Lisa McCracken, chairman of the city's Wayfinding Commission, announced the banner program during a Tuesday morning news conference on the steps of City Hall.

The group was created in 2002 at the urging of City Council President Tom Lane. A year later, members rolled out the wayfinding signs, with the distinctive Capitol dome and river logo, that help direct visitors to shopping districts and recreational areas.

Commission members have been working on the banner policies for about 18 months, McCracken said. Rules and application forms will be posted on the city Web site, cityofcharleston.org, she said, but were not yet online as of Tuesday afternoon. "It's a very effective way of communication," McCracken said. The city of Charleston pays for the hardware and labor to hang banners, while organizations pay the cost of creating the actual banners, she said.

Special event or festival banners, like those for Live on the Levee, are for city-sponsored outdoor events of at least two days, such as FestivALL and Regatta.

"We're open to requests," said McCracken, who gave City Council members a preview of the banner program Monday evening. "[Councilman] Lewis Payne asked me last night if we would consider doing banners to promote the home of 'Mountain Stage.'"

Longer, vertical banners can be used to promote a sense of unity in various neighborhoods. Charleston Town Center Mall, where McCracken works, first hung this type of banner several years ago.

The Kanawha City Community Association has been designing banners that it plans to hang along MacCorkle later this year, McCracken said, and Bridge Road merchants hope to hang banners in South Hills this fall, too. The third category is horizontal event banners, which can be hung across roads to promote charitable and nonprofits events. Because of state and federal restrictions, there are only three approved locations now: West Washington Street, Washington Street East at Ruffner Walk and Virginia Street East near the Civic Center.

"We're looking at additional locations," McCracken said, "a Kanawha City location and a West Side location. Bridge Road is asking us about that, too."

The city Planning Department will manage the banner program, McCracken said. Groups wishing to apply to hang banners should contact the department at 348-8105. There are several application deadlines during the year.

Reach Jim Balow at ba...@wvgazette.com or 348-5102.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - You may have seen the white "Live on the Levee" banners hanging off light poles on the South Side Bridge and elsewhere in the city. You might have seen similar banners earlier this summer touting FestivALL.

But you probably don't know the city of Charleston has a new policy for hanging three types of banners to promote community and neighborhood events. Lisa McCracken, chairman of the city's Wayfinding Commission, announced the banner program during a Tuesday morning news conference on the steps of City Hall.

The group was created in 2002 at the urging of City Council President Tom Lane. A year later, members rolled out the wayfinding signs, with the distinctive Capitol dome and river logo, that help direct visitors to shopping districts and recreational areas.

Commission members have been working on the banner policies for about 18 months, McCracken said. Rules and application forms will be posted on the city Web site, cityofcharleston.org, she said, but were not yet online as of Tuesday afternoon. "It's a very effective way of communication," McCracken said. The city of Charleston pays for the hardware and labor to hang banners, while organizations pay the cost of creating the actual banners, she said.

Special event or festival banners, like those for Live on the Levee, are for city-sponsored outdoor events of at least two days, such as FestivALL and Regatta.

"We're open to requests," said McCracken, who gave City Council members a preview of the banner program Monday evening. "[Councilman] Lewis Payne asked me last night if we would consider doing banners to promote the home of 'Mountain Stage.'"

Longer, vertical banners can be used to promote a sense of unity in various neighborhoods. Charleston Town Center Mall, where McCracken works, first hung this type of banner several years ago.

The Kanawha City Community Association has been designing banners that it plans to hang along MacCorkle later this year, McCracken said, and Bridge Road merchants hope to hang banners in South Hills this fall, too. The third category is horizontal event banners, which can be hung across roads to promote charitable and nonprofits events. Because of state and federal restrictions, there are only three approved locations now: West Washington Street, Washington Street East at Ruffner Walk and Virginia Street East near the Civic Center.

"We're looking at additional locations," McCracken said, "a Kanawha City location and a West Side location. Bridge Road is asking us about that, too."

The city Planning Department will manage the banner program, McCracken said. Groups wishing to apply to hang banners should contact the department at 348-8105. There are several application deadlines during the year.

Reach Jim Balow at ba...@wvgazette.com or 348-5102.