Signage Guidelines - Waterfront Trail

Design Features of the Trailhead SignsTrailhead signs feature a number of components to communicatethe provincial scope of the Trail and to encourage inter-municipaltravel. Table 3.4 provides an overview of these components.Table 3.4: Design Features of the Trailhead Signs• Provincial keymap listing waterfront communities• Depict a regional section of Trail• Provide a mileage chart between destinations• Show distance from current location to Niagara andQuébec• Indicate trail surface• Show landmarks• Mark off distances• Show location of facilities (parking) and hazards• Indicate the nearest 401 exit• Prominently display website address where moreinformation is available• Identify trail and bike route connections• Identify Trans Canada Trail routeLocation for SignsDetails are provided for the location of large signboards at primaryand secondary trailheads, however, these standards could also beapplied to signs at municipal boundaries and interpretive featuresalong the Trail. Trailhead signs should be provided in the followinggeneral locations (refer to Figure 3.49 and 3.50).• Trailhead signs should be located adjacent to major parkingfacilities. Where other trails connect parking areas to themain Waterfront Trail the trailhead sign should be providedadjacent to the main Trail rather than the parking lot.Trailhead signs should be located, if at all possible, withinclear view of the vehicular approach to the parking lot or amajor vehicular route as illustrated. The trailhead sign shouldattract the attention of the passing public and announce theentrance to the Waterfront Trail. It should not, however,compete with or replace park entry signs.• The trailhead sign should be a minimum of two metresfrom the edge of the travel surface of the Trail to providea safe space for viewing. A paved surface is recommendedimmediately adjacent to the sign in heavily used areas.Benches and bicycle lock-ups should also be provided,particularly at large busy parking lots and in areas wherethere are attractions other than the Waterfront Trail. Placethe trailhead sign to take advantage of existing night lightingwhere possible.• Primary trailhead signs are appropriate for major parkingarea locations.• Trailhead signs should be located at major pedestrian accesspoints to the Waterfront Trail in recreational open spaceand at urban points of attraction preferably adjacent tovehicular roadways for additional public exposure. Highpedestrian traffic areas should include benches and otheramenities such as bicycle lock-ups, telephones, washroomsand drinking water.• Trailhead signs may be placed at the transition fromone municipality to another, announcing the change ofjurisdiction and providing a map of the portion of theWaterfront Trail which lies in the municipality ahead. Ideallythese transitional trailhead signs should be located at or nearaccess points to the Trail and preferably one with parkingnearby.(continued from previous page)Our next milestones will involvecreating stunning entrances tothe Pickering Waterfront Trailat the mouth of the RougeRiver (Toronto boundary).Currently the connectionbetween Durham and Torontois understated and stairs makeit challenging to navigate formany people. The new gatewayswill be universally accessible andannounce for trail users thatthey are about to experiencePickering’s waterfront.” 11 Doris Chee - Coordinator, Landscape& Parks DevelopmentMunicipal Property & EngineeringDivision, City of PickeringWaterfront Trail | Design, Signage and Maintenance Guidelines Update | Section 2 - Signage Guidelines2-31