With phase one of the Parksville Downtown Business Association’s wayfinding program complete, the organization is now looking to the next steps.
Parksville city council approved releasing the next portion of money — $47,000 — for the next part of the wayfinding project following a presentation from PDBA executive director Pamela Bottomley and Vaughn Figueira, the city’s director of engineering and operations, on Aug. 8.
In mid-July, the first three wayfinding signs were installed within the business improvement area to let people know when they are entering Parksville’s downtown.
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The three-year phased implementation plan will have a total budget of $265,000 with the PDBA contributing $97,000 and the city contributing $168,000.
Phase two, Bottomley said, will include an information kiosk in Parksville Community Park near the washrooms.
Bottomley said she did a walk through with city staff to sites determine future elements such as what needs to be tweaked and which signs should go where.
She said there is still more than 20 signs planned for the area.
Future signs will be primarily vehicular and pedestrian guides.
“These are all geared around where do people naturally decide where they want to go or how do they need help navigating next,” Bottomley said.
She said there is an interest in getting a little more information of where people naturally gather.
“We have an economic interest in improved traffic flow throughout the business improvement area and letting people know there are services and shops and restaurants up (from the beach).”
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