Signs help people find their way around town
The drive to place wayfinding signs directing visitors and tourists to important sites and landmarks in Emporia was more than a decade in the making.
With 20 signs now scattered across town, that goal has been realized, and drivers headed into town should be having an easier time finding the Emporia State University campus, the William Allen White State Historical Site, or the Lyon County Historical Society & Museum.
Liz Martell, the former head of the Convention and Visitors Bureau, credited the late J. Warren Brinkman with putting together a tentative plan for wayfinding signs back in 1990 or 1991. Martell joined the CVB in 1996.
“I had talked with the Convention and Visitors advisory board and the Chamber (of Commerce) and CVB staff about doing something to continue that concept,” she said. “Probably about four or five years ago, we got serious. The advisory board felt that it was definitely something we needed to have on the CVB business plan for the year, and we started setting aside money for that.”
A plan began to form between the CVB, Emporia Main Street and then-City Manager Steve Commons. Martell said she put together a group of community members to form a committee, which worked with Coffelt Sign Company to decide on the graphic design aspects of the signs. She said members of the CVB advisory board drove the routes for the signs to make sure they would adequately lead people to the intended spots.
“And then the last two years, it was basically in the city’s court to work with the CVB on financial matters and actual placement according to city and state codes,” Martell said.
The signage cost $12,109, Chamber of Commerce Director Jeanine McKenna said. The city, the CVB, and some local donors, including Emporia State, Flint Hills Technical College and Newman Regional Health split the cost.
The signs point to between one and six destinations apiece. A north-facing sign for southbound drivers at 18th and Merchant Street features arrows pointing to the Emporia State campus, the White house, downtown, the Chamber, All Veterans Memorial and the Emporia Zoo.
“We tried to think of things where people are gonna go to if you’re visitors, and don’t know where they’re at,” City Manager Matt Zimmerman said. “So that’s why we figured people would come to the zoo, or the William Allen White house, or ESU, or the tech college ... as opposed to, say, the library, or the schools, because people by and large (are) already in town that are going to be going to those places and know where they are.”
Some of the signs do direct drivers to Emporia High School and Emporia Middle School.
Betty Senn, who replaced Martell as director of the CVB last year, was out of town this week.
gazette_reader (anonymous) says...
I think the signs look great! When I visit other towns, I count signs to help me find the important places. I'm glad we finally have them - especially signs that have a distinctive design and are easy to see. Once a visitor has spotted one, he or she will know what to look for around town.
March 21, 2008 at 2:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Absolute (anonymous) says...
I think the signs look really nice too.
March 21, 2008 at 2:27 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Bjnemp (anonymous) says...
I have to admit, the signs do look nice and professionally done. Now... when does Emporia expect it's first-ever tourist to arrive?
March 21, 2008 at 3:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
stevenlk (anonymous) says...
i noticed them awhile back and my friends and i were impressed. they give a touch to the town. its nice looking.
March 21, 2008 at 3:23 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
landofoz (anonymous) says...
I agree that they are a nice touch. Now all we need are nice places for the signs to direct people to. Maybe they should have one on 12th and Commerial that points South and says "Little Mexico" and one pointing East that says "Little Somolia". That would be a nice touch! LOL Pretty soon when all the businesses here close down and everyone loses their jobs these might make nice roofs for the cardboard boxes we will have to live in since there won't be any jobs here.
March 21, 2008 at 3:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
gold66801 (anonymous) says...
why did it take 4 years to get this done?????????????
also this town has a swimming park why can,t we put a side walk to the pool ????????????????
March 21, 2008 at 3:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )