The signs were made possible through an Operation Commitment program, which offered financial incentives for the reformation of neighborhood associations. Neighborhoods could qualify for city funds by submitting detailed plans for beautification and improvement.

"We sought to revive neighborhood associations and as a neighborhood association would develop neighborhood plans, we, the city, would give them $200,000 to implement those plans," Davis said.

In addition to neighborhood signs and markers, Operation Commitment helped add new sidewalks, decorative lighting and traffic calming measures. The city's plan operated on the idea that greater neighborhood involvement would help property values, discourage crime and attract economic investment.