I recently returned from a week long vacation just south of Jacksonville, FL during which time I was able to visit Guana nature preserve (absolutely flat with mostly ATV wide style trails) and get in a couple of short rides.
I was very impressed with the low-cost, yet very effective marking of the trail system. At the main trail head, the trail layout was simply routed into a large piece of painted plywood. The individual trails were then painted the appropriate color (yellow, red, blue, etc.) along with the mileage of each. Once you ventured out on the trail system, 6 x 6 treated posts, about 4' tall, held mini versions of the larger map, along with an indicator showing you exactly where you where at in relation to the overall trail system. Further more, on the side of each post where color coordinated triangular "pointers" showing the direction of each trail in relation to the overall system.
As a well-seasoned wood-worker hobbyist, this is exactly the same as the trail signage I proposed to Metro Parks several years ago for Waverly Park. Unfortunately, park management shot that proposal down, and actually had multi-colored trails in place, to further confuse trail users.
Metro Parks plans to spend $1,500 for 17 new "carsonite" fiberglass post style markers with their 2008 RTP grant money (when they redo about 70% of the existing trail- more on that in a moment). This marks the second go-round for attempting to mark the trail system with this type of signage. Parks spent at least that much about 3 years ago, when they first tried the fiberglass markers at Waverly. The net result was a very poorly marked, difficult to interprete trail system (ie- wasted money). But rather than learning from past mistakes, or actually listening to the taxpayers that ultimately foot the bill, parks continues to march to their own tune, and will most likely end up with another difficult to interpret set of trail signs.
Speaking of the RTP, I hope everyone has a chance to closely study the map posted at the Waverly kiosk. Because if you do, you'll find that MAJOR changes are in store for the trail system at Waverly. Seventy percent, or more, of the existing trail will be shut down, to make way for new construction. For anyone who's ridden Waverly recently, and has any knowledge of sustainable trail design and construction, you've got to be disappointed with this news. Let's keep our fingers crossed that the contractor selected for building new trails has a mountain bike background and makes a strong case for keeping as much of the existing high quality trail as possible. Getting Waverly's Park Administrator to listen and actually follow good advice, is a whole other story.
