The plan to change the name of Elwood Drive to University Boulevard and simplify the surrounding U.S. Highway 30 and Interstate 35 signage, approved by the Ames City Council on April 10, will be completed by Sept. 17.

“The name change is approved and is in the process of being implemented,” said Warren Madden, vice president for business and finance, who proposed the idea.

The signage was changed in regard to a discussion of the best ways of directing possible students to Iowa State, which includes spelling out “Iowa State University” on the signs.

But the best time to change Elwood Drive to University Boulevard was “discussed by school and city officials,” who decided it should take place preferably after the start of school and the first two home football games, Madden said.

“We felt that was the best time to make the change and also to give enough time to change materials such as maps and letterheads,” Madden said.

After the name change is in place, ISU maps and new phone books will read “University Boulevard (formerly Elwood Drive),” said Madden.

The decision to change the name of Elwood Drive to University Boulevard was made by the university administration to benefit the “thousands of visitors that use Elwood Drive as a major road,” and University Boulevard was decided on as “the best identifier,” Madden said.

Examples of proposed names were mostly athletics-related, such as “Cy Boulevard,” but Madden said they didn’t want the name to be “solely related to [any] athletic organization.”

The question of how Philip Henry Elwood would be honored still remains.

Madden said there was “no final decision” about whether the College of Design, which is currently planning renovations, could work in a way to honor Elwood.

Michael Martin, associate professor of landscape architecture, said the renovations could include a “change in the front yard of the College of Design Building,” which includes building a new, “L”-shaped engineering building next to the Design Building.

Martin said there might be a change to the front of the building, including a possible plaza or walkway that would be dedicated to the memory of Elwood.

“It’s not that Elwood Drive wasn’t the best way to honor him, because it is a major commercial drive, but perhaps something else would be more appropriate,” Martin said. “Elwood was the father of the landscape architecture program at ISU.”