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For many business parks and campus-like areas, signage is an after-thought. But for parks and recreational areas that can cover from one to thousands of acres, signage becomes the key element that ties together the various facilities within the complex, sets the boundaries, helps visitors navigate a large geographic area, and creates an experience that teaches, captures the imagination, and (hopefully) inspires return visits.
Given this wide array of needs, there are specific best practices that can and should be addressed in any strategic signage program for parks and recreational facilities.
The “Signage Super 10”
1. Create a clear, cohesive identity for the entire park system. Basically, cohesive signage is the “glue” that ties the system of parks together, and creates a sense of unity. In fact, when park administrators do a good job of identifying the entire system and the scope of its boundaries, it usually startles people, who often say things like: “I had no idea the park system was this big.” A cohesive signage program can visually convey the true size and scope of the offerings of the system (which can come in handy when seeking additional funding from the city or millage through a levy).