Photo Credit: Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Cunningham Falls State Park
Years ago, as a young man in college, I arrived at one of my most difficult decisions. I wasn't sure how to use a personality that was simply not engaging youth to contribute to a field I cared about deeply. I was willing to dedicate my life to the protection and conservation of open spaces for the use and enjoyment of the public, yet I had no idea how to go about doing it.
Not long after graduating, I was given an assignment at Rocky Gap State Park in Maryland to write a grant proposal for the acquisition of new trail signs. I chose to write the proposal for new fiberglass-embedded signs that would include images and interpretation. As the highlight of my young career, my proposal was complimented by the director of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. In the last few years I have begun to see increasing numbers of these signs in state, city, and community parks, and heritage sites.
I wouldn't have dreamed at the time that I could play a role in such an endeavor. However, it makes sense. Fiberglass interpretive signs don't necessarily fulfill any park department’s mission, but they certainly add another element. Not only do these signs add to the visual appeal of a trail or recreational area, but they present to every visitor some of the concepts that are most important to parks and recreation professionals. I believe that this new trend in the State of Maryland, which began with the National Park Service, will bring even more people into our parks to experience the open spaces we love so dearly.