The Isla Vista Community Services District hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly installed “Welcome to Isla Vista” sign on Feb. 25. The sign, located at the intersection of El Colegio Road and Los Carneros Road, honors the historic original sign while incorporating more durable materials.

IVCSD General Manager Jonathan Abboud drives by the Welcome to Isla Vista sign. Courtesy of Brian Seitz

The project was headed by Jenna Norton, the Isla Vista Community Services District (IVCSD) public works and sustainability director, with assistance from Eleanor Gartner, district representative for Santa Barbara County Supervisor Laura Capps. The previous sign, which stood in I.V. for decades, had significantly faded in both its design and lettering.

The updated sign was created by UC Santa Barbara woodshop technician and I.V. resident  Carson Brown and features a large oak tree painted by fourth-year art major Emme Birkholz. IVCSD Board President Katherine Carmichael said that the oak design symbolizes “beautiful California native ecology” and I.V.’s “self-governance and self-determination.”

Brown explained that because the original sign had fallen into a state of disrepair, he turned to photo archives to stay faithful to the classic design. He used a combination of rot-resistant Douglas fir and marine-grade plywood to ensure the new sign’s longevity. Brown also refinished the beams of the old sign, stripping off lichen and mildew before resealing them to hang the new sign.

IVCSD Public Works and Sustainability Director performs the ribbon cutting for the Welcome to Isla Vista sign. Courtesy of Brian Seitz

“I think this sign is more than just a beautiful piece of infrastructure,” Gartner said. “It’s a celebration of community identity and showcases the vibrancy, the history and the community spirit that all of Isla Vista encapsulates.”

Brown noted that the sign highlights UCSB’s connection to I.V. It sits on University-owned land and was designed and painted by UCSB staff and students, representing a joint effort between campus and community members. 

A version of this article appeared on p. 1 of the March 5, 2026 edition of the Daily Nexus.