Goal #12 Hospitality Improve every user’s experience of Mecklenburg Park & Rec parks, greenways, facilities, and programs. 12.1 Invest in further signage throughout facilities—including buildings, greenways, nature preserves, and parks—to ease wayfinding and expand opportunities for local storytelling. As Mecklenburg Park & Rec creates new facilities and updates existing ones, it is important to mind the details and look for opportunities to improve signage, wayfinding and storytelling. On a practical level, this contributes to positive user experience and navigation, but this is also a placemaking opportunity—a way to help people connect to the places they visit across the county.
Wayfinding Whether inside a recreation center or exploring a nature preserve, wayfinding elements are foundational to a positive user experience. While signage is present at most places, there are currently inconsistencies in visual communication, aging and faded signs, gaps in information, and one-sided signs that are only
visible when approaching from one direction. Curb appeal is a factor in someone’s decision to enter a space – it should look safe and inviting from all points of access. Signage should be improved for increased visibility, safety, ease of navigation, clear communication, and updated information, while considering Meck Playbook’s strategies for equitable reinvestment. For accessibility, signage at trailheads should provide helpful information such as any changes in trail surface material and the distance to destinations including publiclyaccessible restrooms. In places where there is no accessible route to a park or greenway, signs should be provided so users know where to go. In addition to improving existing locations, there is great opportunity to “leap ahead” where new facilities are being built, where new greenways or blueways are being created, and where trails are stitched together. For example, in an area where a greenway trail crosses a road or joins with an on-street bike lane and then diverges again, an abundance of signage and pavement markings is critical to help users smoothly
find their way. Any decision point should be supported by clear navigational cues. The wayfinding standards for both greenway trails and nature preserves are important frameworks. Both systems should continue to relay navigational and general information through cohesive signage systems. Physical wayfinding must be complemented by other print and digital tools. It is recommended to develop an updated and easy-to-use map of the system and to make it accessible both in print and on Mecklenburg Park & Rec’s website. Digital map apps such as Google Maps and Apple Maps should be updated with the correct addresses of all parks, nature preserves, greenway trails, recreation and senior centers, and facilities. Photos and relevant information can be included on the location listings for ease of access to information, like the photos added to Google Maps as part of the greenway trails inventory. In the past, Mecklenburg Park & Rec has explored creating the parks locator app; this should be revisited and completed.
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