SALEM – A portion of East State Street will receive a new honorary name.

In its meeting Tuesday, city council unanimously approved an ordinance designating the section of East State between Lincoln Avenue and Ohio Avenue with the honorary name Civic Way in “recognition of the civic contribution and importance that this corridor has played in the history of Salem.”

As an honorary designation, the new name will be recognized with additional street signs, but will not affect postal addresses or property deeds.

First discussed in a March 3 meeting of the public services committee, the designation was proposed by Salem Renaissance Inc. to highlight the history and the important roles that major city landmarks in the area like the Salem Memorial Building and the Salem Public Library have played in the community.

At that meeting Salem Renaissance President David Schwartz said he had already contacted the organizations operating in the designated area both by letter and in person and that they were in favor of participating. He also argued that the designation could be tied into the Salem Tourism Board’s efforts to promote the city and the downtown area in particular.

Schwartz told the committee that vandalism resistant signs like those used for Sebo Stadium could be purchased for approximately $1,000 and that there were several ways Salem Renaissance could help to secure that funding, including soliciting individual donations or obtaining larger donations from businesses in the area.

The city council will meet next at 7 p.m. on April 21.