Signs sought to direct tourists

Jan. 18, 2007
By JOSEPH M. DELEON News-Post Staff
jdeleon@fredericknewspost.com

  FREDERICK — The Downtown Frederick Partnership is looking for a design firm to develop the Wayfinding Signage Project — signs that will make it easier for visitors to find downtown destinations such as museums and retail shops.
     The firm will be awarded $210,000 to come up with a concept and specifications for a system of signs to guide people who drive and walk downtown. The money will not be used to make and install the signs; the partnership will request more money from state and federal grant sources after the plan is approved.
     The money came from state and city grants. Last year, Frederick was awarded $75,000 from the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, which the city agreed to match dollar for dollar, and $60,000 from Maryland State Highway Administration's National Scenic Byways program.
     The firm chosen will manage all phases of the project. That includes suggestions on replacing existing signs, deciding which destinations to include, developing a sign template that complements historic downtown and coming up with a plan to maintain the system.
     The system could include signs, kiosks and even computer touch-screens.
     Kara Norman is the executive director of the Downtown Frederick Partnership. She is concerned that outdated and excessive signs make it difficult to navigate some parts of downtown. Norman said she hopes the signs will improve the image people have of downtown.
     “It's going to change the visitor experience,” she said. “As a place to shop, work and live, it has to be very clear how to get around and what great amenities are here in downtown Frederick.”
     On Monday, Norman sent requests for proposals to more than a dozen firms, including several national design companies. She hopes to get at least five responses.
     “Developing graphics for signs is a fairly specialized field, but we are certainly looking at Maryland firms,” Ms. Norman said. “Ultimately, we're excited about looking for excellent signage and that kind of awareness is really good for downtown as a whole.”