INC NEWS - Durham Parks and Recreation Seeks Input on New Signage System

Tue Jul 10 17:38:27 EDT 2007

I apologize if this was sent earlier, I wanted to be sure it was not overlooked.

Durham Parks and Recreation Seeks Input on New Signage System
Top Three Design “Finalists” Now Ready; Citizen Survey Online Until Aug. 31

Durham, N.C. – Durham residents and visitors now have the chance to provide their input on a new signage system to be implemented in the City’s more than 60 parks and recreation facilities in the coming months.

According to Beth Timson, assistant director for the City’s Department of Parks & Recreation (DPR), the need for a consistent, easy-to-understand park signage system has been evident for quite some time.  “When you go to any park or recreational center, the signs at each one are very different.  So, as a visitor, you don’t know where to consistently look for directions in a park or even if you’re at a City park when passing by on a roadway,” Timson said.  “Thanks to $750,000 for new park signage as part of the 2005 bond referendum, we have hired a team of design consultants to propose a new, redesigned sign package for every DPR facility and park within the City limits.  The top three design choices are now ready, and we want to hear from our residents on which one they like the best.”

According to Timson, the design consultants toured City parks and met with City staff from multiple departments to determine what was needed at current facilities and parks. “We all agreed that the signs needed to be highly visible and made of materials that are both affordable and easy to maintain,” Timson said.  “We also agreed that the signs should utilize component pieces, so we could mix-and-match information as needed for different parks and so that repairs would be easier.  Finally, we wanted signs that were easy to understand and included graphic icons.”

Now, DPR will be taking the final three designs out into the community at various public meetings as well as seeking input through an online survey located on the City’s website.  “The online survey is a quick and easy way for residents to send us their feedback on the designs,” Timson said.  “We’re going to be out at community meetings with these designs, but the online survey is a great way to give feedback if you can’t attend a meeting.”  According to Timson, she plans to visit the monthly meetings of all five Partners Against Crime (PAC) districts, as well as the InterNeighborhood Council and any individual neighborhood association that requests a visit.  The sign package is also being reviewed by the City’s Historic Preservation Commission, the Durham City-County Appearance Commission and the City’s Recreation Advisory Commission. 

The online survey, located at http://www.durhamnc.gov/departments/parks/signage_survey.cfm, will be available for citizen input until the end of business on Friday, August 31, 2007.  DPR will then tally the results and take into account the feedback received from both the website survey and community meetings when it selects the final design.  

According to Timson, once the final design is selected, DPR will bid out the project for construction and installation in five parks as a pilot project, including Old North Durham, Forest Hills, Hillside/W. D. Hill, Sherwood and West Point on the Eno. “Once the pilot parks have been installed and we evaluate how the new system is working, we will move forward with the new system in all of the City’s recreational facilities and parks,” Timson said.

For more information, residents should contact Timson via e-mail at beth.timson at durhamnc.gov.

About Durham Parks and Recreation
Durham Parks and Recreation (DPR) provides opportunities for the City of Durham community to "Play More."  The department helps citizens discover, explore and enjoy life through creative and challenging recreational choices that contribute to their physical, emotional and social health.  To learn more about DPR, visit the City's website at http://www.durhamnc.gov/departments/parks/.  

David Harris
919-906-2023
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