City installs wayfinding signs, kiosks to help navigate community
Getting around
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Helping residents and visitors discover what downtown Warren has to offer is the goal behind a new wayfinding sign and information kiosk project that has been installed throughout the city.
The project, guided by the City of Warren’s Comprehensive Plan Task Force, has been in development for approximately 18 months, beginning in February 2024. The signs and kiosks are designed to make it easier for people to locate downtown attractions, businesses, public spaces and community resources.
The idea began when members of the task force traveled to Jamestown, N.Y., to see a similar wayfinding project and learn how it was developed. City representatives then began working with Advance Sign to execute their vision.
According to Doug Hearn, member of the Comprehensive Plan Task Force, the group wanted the signs to reflect Warren’s established aesthetic, including the black accents used throughout the city’s street lighting and other features. The final design was developed with input from city representatives and community members.
The placement of the signs was a collaborative effort involving city representatives, volunteers and other community resources. Participants reviewed a map of Warren and identified locations that would be useful to visitors while also considering areas where the city could see future growth.
The signs highlight established community destinations, including Struthers Library Theatre, Washington Park, the library, courthouse and municipal building. Other signs direct people toward general business districts and amenities, such as restaurants, taprooms and breweries and parking
In addition to helping people find their way around downtown, the informational kiosks are intended to serve as public bulletin boards where residents and visitors can learn about upcoming events, programs and activities.
The kiosks are located at five downtown locations:
-- Hickory Street and Third Avenue, next to the Blair 25-Year Club wall.
-- Hickory Street and Pennsylvania Avenue West, at Soldiers and Sailors Park.
-- Liberty Street in front of Art Kelsey Park.
-- Liberty Street and Pennsylvania Avenue West, near ErieBank.
-- Liberty Street and Clark Street.
Randall Rossey, Director of Codes, Planning, and Economic Development, said the kiosks are intended to provide an accessible way for community organizations and event coordinators to share information with the public.
“We’re not doing it for us," Rossey said. "We’re not doing it just to say that we did it. We’re doing it for the community.”
Organizations interested in posting information must follow the city’s kiosk posting guidelines and should contact the Director of Codes, Planning and Economic Development at 814-723-6300, extension 143, at least five business days before their requested posting date. Approved materials must be provided to the city in hard-copy form at least one business day before the scheduled posting.
Another feature of the project is the use of QR codes, which connect users to online information about downtown Warren.
Visitors can scan a code, select a destination and receive directions to that location.
Public Works Department Secretary Kassie Damcott said the combination of digital technology and traditional signage is important because not everyone is comfortable relying on a smartphone to find their way around.
While the QR codes offer convenience, the physical maps and signs also encourage people to look around, become more familiar with their surroundings and potentially discover places they might otherwise overlook.
“I hope that by placing physical signs, it gets people to get off their phones and looking at their surroundings,” Damcott said.
The wayfinding and kiosk project is one of the first major physical projects completed as a result of Warren’s Comprehensive Plan, adopted in 2023.
The city established its Comprehensive Plan Task Force to help ensure the recommendations outlined in the plan become actual community improvements rather than simply remaining on paper.
The plan was developed with public input, allowing residents and business owners to share what they would like to see in Warren’s future.
The task force works alongside the City Council to identify projects, encourage community involvement and help move those recommendations forward. The wayfinding project was funded through the city’s capital improvement budget.
Other initiatives connected to the Comprehensive Plan include the formation of the Downtown Merchant Group, Ribfest and plans to improve Mulberry Park.
Task force members emphasized that continued community participation will be important as Warren moves forward with additional projects.
The committee meets approximately once a month and includes several areas of focus, including downtown and business development, parks and other community improvements.
Damcott said there are opportunities for residents with different interests, backgrounds and connections to become involved. Volunteers may also be able to bring forward new ideas or identify potential funding opportunities for future projects.
Residents interested in volunteering or learning more about the Comprehensive Plan Task Force can contact Damcott for additional information.
With the installation of the wayfinding signs and kiosks, Warren has taken an important step toward making downtown more accessible, welcoming and informative for both visitors and the people who call the community home.