New Sign Unveiled On Willow Creek Road Recognizing German Sister City
A new street sign was unveiled last week on Willow Creek Road, officially recognizing Zeitz, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, as Prescott's newest Sister City.
Prescott Mayor Marlin Kuykendall, and Zeitz Mayor Volkmar Kunze unveiled the sign, with members of the Arizona Sister Cities Committee and colleagues of Mayor Kunze looking on.
Zeitz, with a population of approximately 30,000, is located in the former East Germany, about two hours south of Berlin. The partnership with Zeitz was finalized by the Prescott City Council in February, 2013, after more than a year of communication with Zietz officials.
Zeitz became the third Sister City relationship for Prescott, after establishing relationships with Caborca, Mexico, and Suchitoto, El Salvador.
The bond with Zeitz has lead to cultural and tourism exchanges between the two communities, including German students who have traveled to Prescott, and students from Bradshaw Mountain High School who have traveled to Germany. In addition, Mayor Kunze traveled to Prescott during Arizona's February 2012 centennial celebration, and several Prescott residents traveled to Zeitz in the fall of 2012.
After the unveiling, the delegation met at the Smoki Museum for a small reception. Margo Christensen, Vice President of Marketing for Ponderosa Hotel Management Services, which oversees the Springhill Suites by Marriott and Residence Inn by Marriott, was recognized for her efforts as Chairwomen for the Prescott-Zeitz Germany Sister City Association.