Whitefish wayfinding sign project under way

Whitefish is embarking on a wayfinding project to create new and additional signs for major amenities in the resort town.

A public meeting is planned from 4 to 6:30 p.m. on Thursday at the O’Shaughnessy Center to get feedback on proposed concepts.

The city of Whitefish and the Heart of Whitefish downtown group are collaborating on the sign project. The Heart of Whitefish is paying the consulting fees and the city will pay future sign-making and installation costs. Cost estimates have not yet been provided. 

The Heart of Whitefish contracted with Cygnet Strategies of East Helena to design a wayfinding sign system to help visitors navigate throughout Whitefish.

The consultant’s findings are documented in a 26-page report that can be downloaded from the Whitefish city website, www.whitefish.govoffice.com.

A steering committee of local business leaders began working on the wayfinding project in late August, and by mid-November the consultant had developed a number of design concepts and recommendations.

Key objectives are to improve and influence vehicle and pedestrian traffic to destinations, enhance the Whitefish “experience” for visitors and residents, create a cohesive visual identity and design an affordable system that can be maintained without compromising function or aesthetics.

The consultant found the graphics on the existing blue “Welcome to Whitefish” signs to be difficult to decipher because they’re detailed and lack appropriate contrast. Instead, Cygnet Strategies has recommended green and brown gateway signs that incorporate the color and lettering style of the old Great Northern Railway.

Locator signs for amenities such as the golf course, post office, City Hall, train depot, City Beach and so on would be dark green with white lettering.

Cygnet Strategies noted that Whitefish has done an excellent job of working with the Montana Department of Transportation to make sure that Whitefish appears on as many signs as possible throughout the region.

Within the city, the consultant found that an assortment of signs in different sizes and styles “creates a haphazard look and feels similar to posting a variety of flyers.”

In some cases, tree foliage blocks sign visibility, and some signs were faded or misleading.

A sign on Baker Avenue for the historic Railway District is difficult to read from vehicles traveling on Baker. Signs for the depot and Stumptown Museum are difficult to read from a distance, and the Chamber of Commerce Visitor Information Center on Spokane Avenue is difficult to identify, the report said.

Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by email at lhintze@dailyinterlake.com.