East Hampton Wayfinding Signage Program
Prepared by The Streetscape Steering Committee: Liz Harris (Chair), Kevin Burnham, Ralph Stoekle and Sue Weintraub
The Goal
Recent improvements to East High Street (south side of Route 66 between Main Street and Route 196), including decorative sidewalks, granite curbing, and landscaping, were made possible by a grant from the State’s Small Town Economic Assistance Program. While working on this project, the Streetscape Steering Committee identified the need for wayfinding signage, both within the streetscape project area and in the community as a whole.
The Streetscape Committee realized that East Hampton lacks consistent directional signage highlighting the Town’s many natural resources, historical landmarks, and services. The Committee's goal was not only to restore signage to the project area(the arched East Hampton Village Center sign, which was removed during construction), but to generate a Town-wide wayfinding program.
Two local professional graphic designers volunteered their services to design a comprehensive and compelling approach to unite the three parts of our community—East Hampton, Cobalt and Middle Haddam. Red Barn Studio owner Teri Prestash took a fresh approach to the town’s historical bell and ship symbol which would be viewed by vehicular traffic driving by at 35+ miles per hour as well as by cyclists and pedestrians. Streetscape Committee and Town Council member Sue Weintraub worked on the overall
design, materials and costs of the family of destination and locator signs.
Wayfinding is more than providing directional signage from point A to B. It is a plan to promote and educate both residents and visitors to the town’s natural, cultural, historic and municipal resources – from the Library and Senior Center to the Village Center, Salmon River State Park and Chatham Historical Society. This community signage program will be a daily reminder of what makes East Hampton such a special place to live, work and visit. It also encourages and controls traffic flow thru town.
The Design
• The cobalt blue background of the sign was chosen to complement the current street sign color and was also selected for ‘Cobalt’ and all of the natural water resources in East Hampton.
• The font was selected for readability and to project an upbeat, friendly and professional style.
• The yellow and light blue accent colors provide inviting, rich details to the deep, cobalt blue.
• The directional arrows were fashioned to resemble arrowheads to tie into the local Native American folklore and history.
• The bell is a refined version of the existing bell used on the current town logo. While the ship has been simplified for clarity, important elements such as the square-rigged sails remain intact. Square-rigged sails are characteristic of the ships once built in Middle Haddam, and distinguish the ship in the graphic as historical rather than present day.
Endorsed by EDC, DRB and Town Council
• On June 11th, the Streetscape Committee presented the proposed Wayfinding Sign Program to the Design Review Board (DRB): “DRB fully supports the Streetscape Committee's signage proposal, including the proposed graphics and colors. We believe the graphics developed properly incorporate important elements of the three main areas of East Hampton (East Hampton, Cobalt and Middle Haddam). A properly deployed sign program will help continue to improve the look and feel of our community.”
• On June 16th, the Streetscape Committee made a presentation to the Economic Development Commission (EDC): “This program will be extremely beneficial to the town, from both a practical wayfinding and also an image improvement perspective – having a consistent, appealing logo and comprehensive signage program will better represent the town to both visitors/tourists and prospective business owners. For these reasons, EDC whole-heartedly endorses the initial implementation of the Streetscape signage program, as well as the grander vision for the whole town.”
• On June 23 the Streetscape Committee presented the Wayfinding Signage program to the Town Council (TC). TC suggested the bell symbol be made more traditional; on July 24 the TC voted 5-2 to adopt the bell and ship art with the only change to engrave ‘1767’ on the bell.
Next Steps
• Upon approval by Town Council at their next meeting on August 11, DOT will be contacted for permits and approvals, a prototype sign will be produced and installed at the NE corner of RT 66 and Main street.
• Remaining grant dollars from the Streetscape Initiative will be used to fund recommended signs between Main Street and RT 196.
• The Streetscape Committee developed a proposed list of town-wide destinations and sign locations for town staff to consider, prioritize, fund and implement. A master plan and strategy should be developed by Community and Environmental Planner Kerry Nielson and coordinated with Public Works Director Keith Hayden.
Funding
The initial wayfinding signage planned along the RT 66 project area will be paid for by the original State grant. Additional townwide signs will be prioritized and budgeted through the Town Manger, Public Works and Town Council.
8-4-09
| 
