City-wide Gate and Wayfinding Master Plan

Project Status: Design

Project Overview: 

The City of Duluth is close to completing a comprehensive city-wide Gate, Wayfinding and Trailhead/Orientation Plan. This has included a field inventory and analysis of Duluth's trail and bikeway system, design and planning for implementation and recommendations for educational and informational signage both at trail access points to the proposed St. Louis River National Water Trail. The completed plan will present clear and consistent signage throughout the system.

The City has partnered with key stakeholders and land managers to identify key components of the plan. A Public Open House was held in August in which the elements of design were narrowed. 

The final plans will be presented to the Parks Commission at their March 2017 meeting.

 Proposed Implementation priorities

1. New park or trail with high priority safety concerns or resource damage issues
2. Existing park or trail with high priority safety concerns or resource damage
3. “Trailblazer” signs providing direction from road to park
4. New park or trail with budget for sign installation, e.g. Half-and-half
5. Existing park or trail undergoing significant capital improvement with budget for signs
6. Replace damaged or worn signs as needed

Proposed Funding mechanisms

• Half-and-Half tax for selected River Corridor projects in 2017-2019
  1. Chambers Grove signs, Quarry Park signs and Magney-Snively gates
  2. Trailblazer signs full buildout for Corridor
• Parks maintenance budget
  1. Replacing broken signs
  2. Ongoing minor sign implementation
  3. Gates as needed
• User groups
  1. Example of DXC funding Lester Park trial signage in 2016-17
• Parks capital fund
  1. Just for signage, to match outside sources
  2. As part of overall construction budget (generally 2%-5% of construction cost)
• Outside grants
  1. Grants just for signage
  2. Overall project grants (generally 2%-5% of construction cost)

 Important Documents:

Wayfinding Signage Design - (14.42 MB) - (Final Draft for City Council - 3/27/17)

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Erik Birkeland

Property & Facilities Manager

1532 W. Michigan Street

411 West First Street

Duluth MN 55806

218-730-4435

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