In 2018, the North Fork Valley Creative Coalition (NFVCC) was awarded a $10,000 grant from Colorado Creative Industries’ Creative District Technical Assistance program to develop a Signage and Wayfinding Plan for Paonia Creative District and Town of Paonia.
NFVCC hired C+B Design, LLC of Henderson, CO to facilitate the planning process. The Signage and Wayfinding Master Plan includes a comprehensive inventory of existing signs in and around Paonia. Through a series of community-driven focus groups, NFVCC developed designs and a plan for new signage, including: highway signs, gateway signs into town, Creative District signs, wayfinding signs, banners on light-poles, a visitors’ kiosk, bike racks, benches, and flower planters.
Delta County Board of County Commissioners pledged $2,500 to this project for the purpose of economic development. Proper signage can be transformative for communities, visitor experience, and economic development. According to Kristin Cypher of C+B Design, “Signage and wayfinding does more than just help people navigate – it can also tell an evocative and compelling story about place and people, and contribute significantly to how an area is perceived, used, and accessed.”
Since the plan was created, one beautiful sign has been placed on Hwy 133, west of the Samuel Wade Road entrance to town. The sign was created at the 2018 Brushmasters Getaway, held at Wisehart Springs Inn. Thank you to all who helped place the sign!