Preliminary designs were unveiled Wednesday for new wayfinding signs that will lead visitors to attractions and parking and help residents rediscover local landmarks.
“Wayfinding is non-existent in Crawfordsville and Montgomery County,” said Heather Shirk, executive director of the Montgomery County Visitors and Convention Bureau, which coordinated the project.
“Those of us who are from here, grown up here probably take it for granted that we know how to get around,” Shirk added, “but for visitors coming in … was it easy to find this or can we find that?”
Traverse City, Michigan-based Corbin Design was hired to develop a countywide vehicle, parking and pedestrian wayfinding program to help people navigate the area. Project designers detailed the plans for community leaders in a presentation at Fusion 54.
Signs will direct pedestrians to downtown attractions like museums and parks. Kiosks will display maps and other information about sites of interest. Signs will also identify public downtown parking lots and lead trail users.
The rest of the county will be to purchase signs for landmarks in the smaller communities.
“We want to increase visitor satisfaction, extend their visit or stay, help them become aware of other destinations that are hidden around the area so that they stay longer, have a better experience and find those destinations more easily and effectively,” lead designer Jeff Frank said.
The project was funded by a $97,000 grant from the Montgomery County Convention and Visitors Commission. Support also came from Mayor Todd Barton’s office, the city’s street department, parks and recreation and Crawfordsville Main Street.
Signs and kiosks aren’t popping up immediately. The designs still need finalized and locations have not been set. The signs will likely be installed in phases as funding becomes available.
Corbin Design has implemented wayfinding programs in Lafayette, South Bend, Indianapolis and other Midwestern communities.
