Hines Park

Kiosk, Sign, and Map Proposal

Prepared by

March 2015

Contents Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 3

Trail Sign Categories .......................................................................................................... 3

Informational Signs ......................................................................................................... 3

Primary Trailhead Kiosks ........................................................................................... 4

Secondary Trailhead Kiosks ....................................................................................... 7

Kiosk Locations .......................................................................................................... 9

Trail Intersection Signs ............................................................................................. 10

Waymarks ................................................................................................................. 12

Trail Directional Decals ............................................................................................ 13

Difficulty Rating Signs ............................................................................................. 15

Regulatory and Warning Signs ..................................................................................... 16

Visitor Rules and Regulation Signs .......................................................................... 16

Allowed Activities .................................................................................................... 16

Prohibited Activities ................................................................................................. 17

Emergency Signs ...................................................................................................... 19

Educational/Interpretive Signs ...................................................................................... 20

Responsible Use Signs .............................................................................................. 20

Interpretive Signs ...................................................................................................... 21

Trail Maps ......................................................................................................................... 22

Materials ........................................................................................................................... 23

Sources .............................................................................................................................. 23

Introduction

Signs are the most important communications vehicle between Wayne County Parks and

its trail users. A well designed and implemented system can greatly enhance the user

experience, navigating visitors confidently through the trail network and providing

information about the park and surrounding area. Signs also play a critical role in

managing risk and the rapid and efficient deployment of emergency services if needed.

This document proposes a comprehensive signage program that is intended to meet the

needs of everyone, from the daily trail user to someone who is experiencing the trails for

the very first time.

Trail Sign Categories This document describes three categories of trail signs:

Informational

Warnings and Regulations

Educational/Interpretive

Together, these signs accomplish the following goals:

Trail Identification

Route confirmation

Guidance to destinations and points of interest

Regulations and allowed usage

Education about responsible trail usage and etiquette

Resource Protection

Risk awareness and hazard description.

Informational Signs

Directional signs provide navigation information, and this category includes everything

from simple arrows pointing the way down the trail to formal maps. Each of these is

described in the following sections.

Primary Trailhead Kiosks

Trailhead Kiosks are large sign installations at the entrance to the trail system. The

purpose of the trailhead kiosk is to arm visitors with information to make smart decisions

about which trails to travel and can provide information about the area’s resources,

volunteer projects, and fliers for events and activities.

The information presented on a Primary Trailhead Kiosk should include:

A Map

Trail information, including length and difficulty ratings

Emergency Contacts

Location Information (you are here)

Risks and Hazard Warnings

Responsible Trail Use and Etiquette

Rules and Regulations

Interpretive Information

Volunteer Information

An area for fliers and community event postings

Here’s an example of a best practice trailhead sign that integrates most of these features

into a single integrated whole. It could be used as a model for a Hines-specific trailhead

sign:

A Primary Trailhead kiosk should be a structure that is easily identified as an information

kiosk and is large enough to display all of the relevant information in an easy to read

format. A roof structure protects the display and permits the inclusion of space for non-

weatherized temporary fliers for trail events and community news, and provides an

impromptu shelter against weather.

Alternative A: Our first recommended alternative is that we use the same design for the

primary trailhead kiosk that we’ve implemented at most other mountain biking trails in

Metro Detroit, including the trail at Rouge Park. Here’s an example from Maybury State

Park:

Plans for the kiosk are available:

Alternative B: Another attractive alternative for a primary trailhead presents a less rustic

appearance and simpler roofline and still represents a modest investment that could be

realized this spring through volunteer efforts:

Alternative C: Another alternative is to forgo the more structured primary kiosk concept

and use the same secondary kiosk design in all situations.

Our recommendation is to implement Alternative A as a Primary Trailhead Kiosk for the

Hines Park trails.

Secondary Trailhead Kiosks

Secondary Kiosks are smaller and less developed that primary trailheads, but serve

similar functions. They include a map with a ‘you are here’ indicator, basic rules, and

emergency contact information.

Alternative A: Our first recommendation for Secondary Trailhead Kiosks is a pressure

treated wooden framed sign of 2x5 feet in usable area suspended between two 6x6 posts,

set in concrete.

This design has been implemented on other MCMBA trails, as in this example:

Our recommendation is that the sign area be completely filled with a map and

informational signs, printed on weatherproof aluminum sign material.

Alternative B: An alternate secondary trailhead kiosk possibility is this example from

Valmont Bike Park in Boulder, CO. It too is suspended between upright 6x6 posts, but is

constructed with a commercial steel frame mesh that has been powder coated for weather

protection. It’s a cleaner look, but requires more robust, thicker sign materials and careful

graphic design.

Recommendation: Our recommendation is to proceed with the wooden secondary kiosk

structure that we have implemented at other area trails this spring. Should we wish to re-

visit this and use the Valmont-style sign we can reuse the permanent 6x6 posts in place.

Kiosk Locations

The proposal is to have three kiosks:

- A Primary Kiosk at the intersection of Ann Arbor Rd and Newburgh

- A Secondary Kiosk at the Levan Trailhead

- A Primary Kiosk at the I-275 Trailhead

Trail Intersection Signs

Signs at intersections need to provide clear, concise directions for how to stay on the trail

or return to a trailhead. Intersection signs also include identification information to aid in

location finding for emergencies.

Our recommendation for key intersections is to include a map placard with a ‘you are

here’ map that identifies your current location on the trail mounted to the top of a 4x4

pressure treated post, with additional decals mounted to the post to indicate the direction

to the nearest trailhead. Here is an example of a similar trail intersection sign we’ve used

elsewhere:

Waymarks

Waymarks are small, simple posts on which signs are installed that direct users along the

trail. Waymarks are placed at specific intervals to denote mileage and where necessary to

guide users on the correct path. Waypoint signs are an effective way to give visitors a

self-guided experience without the need for frequent map checks.

We propose using reflective 3x3 decals with arrows mounted on 4x4 posts to direct users.

Here’s an example from another one of our trails:

At Hines Park, all of our trails are multi-use and multi-directional, and so signs would not

segregate users as in this example.

Trail Directional Decals

Trail directional decals are generally available in 10 or 11 different standard colors,

depending on the vendor.

Some of these colors work better than others. A significant percentage of the male

population has some form of color blindness, and so it’s best to stay with highly

distinctive primary colors to identify trails.

In the long term, we envision that comprehensive maps will be developed for the entirety

of the Hines Park trail system, including the road system, paved pathways, multi-use

trails, and dedicated hiking only trails. We recommend using a consistent color pattern

for each of these trail types in Hines Park on maps and directional signage:

- Black – Roadways

- Blue – Paved multi-use pathways

- Green – Hiking only natural trails

- Orange – Multi use natural trails

In the long term, the inclusion of a trail name along with directional information provides

a significant enhancement of a trail user’s ability to guide themselves successfully

through the trail system, like this:

This requires the fabrication of custom decals, for each trail segment and each direction

required. It’s our recommendation that we first install standard, off the shelf trail

directional arrow decals this spring, and then order and install post-specific decals later in

the year after the post placement is refined and established.

Difficulty Rating Signs

Where choices exist, signs that indicate the difficulty of each choice helps trail users

make informed decisions and select trails that match their skill level. Trail difficulty signs

indicate the technical challenge of a trail, not the physical exertion required.

The following decals shall be used to indicate difficulty levels:

Regulatory and Warning Signs

Regulatory signs convey rules, such as prohibited activities, direction of travel, or other

restrictions. Warning signs are used to caution trail users of hazards or risks.

Visitor Rules and Regulation Signs

Regulatory signs should be simple and clear, using language that encourages good

behavior. Here are the rules that we propose for the multi-use natural trails:

Safety first: Ride within your abilities

Stay on trails, riding off trails can cause damage to the park.

Respect trail closures.

Do not modify trails or features.

Follow all Directional Signage, and remember trail intersections come quickly.

Remain aware of other users at all times.

Yield to pedestrians and uphill bike traffic in the park.

Dogs must be on leash at all times – please clean up after your pets.

Deposit all waste in appropriate waste or recycling receptacles.

Allowed Activities

The following decals shall be used to indicate allowed activities:

Prohibited Activities

The following decals shall be used to indicate prohibited activities:

Emergency Signs

At other MCMBA trails, we are beginning to use the following signs in selected locations

to identify emergency extraction/location information:

These decals are mounted on 4x4 sign posts where the ‘zone’ identifier corresponds to

marking on first responder maps.

Educational/Interpretive Signs

Educational signs provide guidelines for responsible trail use and etiquette, while

interpretive signs can point out natural or cultural resources along the route.

Responsible Use Signs

Not all trail users come from the same background and have the same experience levels,

and it’s helpful to share information on trail etiquette and customs. This information

includes:

- Staying on the trail, and not creating new braids

- Bikers yield to hikers and be aware of other traffic

- Avoiding using the trail in muddy conditions

- Riding through soft spots and puddles rather than around them

The following graphic includes much of this information and has been used elsewhere:

And this graphic has been used to educate users regarding riding in poor conditions:

Interpretive Signs

Interpretive signs provide information about points of interest along the trail. While

interpretive signs traditionally have been focused the hiker audience, they are now being

used in a broader context to include information about bike skills as well as the local

environment, and can help instill an ethic of conservation in all trail users.

At present, we are not proposing the installation of any interpretive signs on the Hines

Park trails.

Trail Maps (To be supplied)

Materials Recently, the MCMBA has been having signs printed on an outdoor durable

weatherproof decal material and laminated on an aluminum clad composite substrate

called “Di-Bond”. These signs have been exposed to weather for several years with

minimal fading or wear.

We recommend doing the same for all Hines Park signs.

Sources The MCMBA has used the following sources for signs and materials described in this

proposal:

RockArt Signs and Markers, http://www.rockartsigns.com/

RockArt has a rich portfolio of recreational decals and fixtures, and has a custom decal

printing capability for non-standard needs

Fossil Industries, http://www.fossilinc.com/

Fossil fabricates bulletproof signs that can withstand almost anything, at a price.

Signs by Tomorrow, http://www.signsbytomorrow.com/livonia/

A local vendor in Livonia, printing high quality, affordable weatherproof signs.