JOSH DAVIS/BAYSIDE GAZETTE
New, more colorful wayfinding signs are going up in downtown Berlin. The signs were funded by a grant from the Department of Housing and Community Development.

By Josh Davis, Associate Editor

(Sept. 20, 2018) New “wayfinding” signs are going up around downtown Berlin and several more are on the way, according to Economic and Community Development Director Ivy Wells.

As of Tuesday morning, one two-sided sign had been placed at the corner of Main and Pitts streets, and signs had also been installed on the corner of Jefferson Street and Main, and William Street and Main, both near the Atlantic Hotel.

Wells said the new signs, paid for by a Main Street Improvement grant through Department of Housing and Community Development, would replace the old signs and direct visitors around the downtown area.

“The old ones were slightly difficult to read, from a driver’s perspective. With the concerns of parking, I thought it would be helpful to have new wayfinding signs to help people find where our parking is located,” Wells said.

“I also wanted to make sure that people strolled down our side shops and knew where the restrooms and the welcome center were and, especially, where parking was,” she added.

Shannon-Baum Signs of Sykesville, a preferred vendor of the Maryland Municipal League, made the signs based on a design by Wells. Town of Berlin public works are in the process of installing the signs.

“They’re putting them up a little at a time this week,” Wells said. “I think there’s 25 maybe. These are replacing the older ones, plus I sought out several new locations I thought would made sense for new wayfinding signs.”

That will eventually include a sign directing people to park near Stephen Decatur Park during events, as well as a larger sign on Broad Street, Wells said.

“I think that they look wonderful. I’m very pleased with the outcome,” she said. “We’re also trying to incorporate that ‘Welcome to Berlin’ graphic in a lot of our advertising as well to remain consistent.”