New signage in the works for Barrington’s beaches
New signage is in the works for the beaches in the Municipality of Barrington.
A beach signage strategy report was accepted and recommended to proceed by municipal councillors when they met on March 16 as a committee of the whole. The decision will be ratified when council meetings resume following the COVID19 shutdown.
“Our beaches are one of our biggest assets, having a comprehensive signage plan will be a great addition to the municipality,” said Suzy Atwood, director of marketing and tourism development for the municipality. “This will allow both our visitors and residents to easily find them, foster local pride and enhance the character of our municipality.”
New signage was identified as one of the first steps in the municipality’s Beaches Strategy approved in December. Promotion
and support of the local tourism industry is identified as a priority in the municipality’s most recent strategic plan.
“The primary intent of the new municipal beach signage is to attract, direct and inform people travelling through the municipality to entice their further exploration of our beaches,” reads the report. “Therefore, the signs’ design will be authentic to the municipality’s identity, strengthen the image the municipality wishes to enhance, and foster pride among residents and organizations, especially those that attract and host visitors. The proposed design reflects the community’s input, supports our existing brand and introduces new features that are functional and aesthetically complementary to existing community elements. It also offers a sustainable, cost-effective, time sensitive and flexible approach to growth and revision of sign and design elements over time.”
The plan is to install three large gateway signs, five gateway entrance signs, 10 small beach gateway signs and 75 directional signs this year at an estimated cost of $20,125, not including the cost of poles, hardware, installation and HST.
Up to 50 per cent funding of eligible project costs to a maximum of $25,000 may be available through the provincial Beautification and Streetscaping Program.
“Although not part of the beach signage plan, our review found additional opportunity for signage that the municipality could further develop to make the community even more welcoming and memorable,” states the report. These include:
• Interpretative Signage: Common interpretive signs could be added for parks (e.g. Island View Park, Drinking Brook Park, etc.), walking and nature trails, historical buildings and lighthouses.
• Service Club Identification Signage: Although independent from the municipality, knowledge, through signage, of the availability of service groups within the community can be of interest to travelling members and to show the level of community engagement that exists within the municipality for potential future residents.
• Facility Signs: The municipality has somewhat inconsistent signage on many of its facilities. However, there are some facilities such as the pool, which lacks signage entirely. These should be addressed in a timely manner, which would help to quickly identify municipally owned properties.