Crescent Valley Beach Regional Park is a popular riverfront park in the Slocan Valley. In summer months, it is one of the liveliest parks in the region with visitors enjoying the sandy beach, kayaking, rafting, canoeing, swimming, picnicking, hiking and simply enjoying the park’s natural environment. In the past this location was getting too popular for it’s own good. Parking along the highway was becoming problematic and there were no facilities. The RDCK acquired the land and over the past couple of years have added major improvements to make this an official regional park. It now has ample parking, washroom facilities, hiking and biking trails, and new signage.
I worked with the RDCK to develop the interpretive and wayfinding signs and maps for the park. I handled the project management, graphic design and interpretive planning and writing for the project. For these signs I chose one feature photo to use at a large size that will draw the reader to the sign and give them an overview of what it is all about. I find that most interpretive signs try to fit too much information on the sign. There is way too much small text and little square photos. Or worse, the dreaded photo collage. The signs were mounted on custom built timber and metal sign structures, a nod to the industrial past use of the land. There is one more sign that is still in the development phase that will go into more detail about the first nations history on the land. After all, they were here long before there were ever sawmills and hockey leagues. It was fulfilling to work with local government and first nations to produce these signs. The signs have been well received by visitors and locals.
