Ellensburg-capital project-Wayfinding Master Plan

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Tourism -Related, Small -Scale Municipality -Owned Capital Project Narrative 1. Project Description: Please describe the project in detail. Indicate the major work to be completed, any milestones that need to be overcome in order for the project to move forward, and include a comparison of existing and proposed conditions. In June of 2016 the City of Ellensburg and Kittitas County Chamber of Commerce Tourism Division began developing a Wayfinding Master Plan for the City of Ellensburg, which was completed in February 2017. The wayfinding master plan is the pathway in which the city intends to provide signage for tourism and residents. The key objectives of the wayfinding project is to provide route guidance along key corridors, create a visually -unified signage system, generate signage templates for key community attractions, curate the visitor experience within Ellensburg and generate local awareness and pride of amenities and assets. The Wayfinding Master Plan for the City of Ellensburg includes 32 Vehicular Directional signs, five Gateways signs, four Pedestrian Map signs, four Parking Directional signs, and four Pedestrian Directional signs. The current grant funding request is for the 32 Vehicular Directional signs called for in the Wayfinding Master Plan. The City of Ellensburg has already added a few wayfinding signs mostly found just outside or within the downtown core. The proposed project which adds 32 Vehicular Directional signs would boost the total amount and bring attention to the downtown core of our wonderful city. 2. Kittitas County Tourism Infrastructure Plan: Please explain how the project meets the goals and priorities in the Kittitas County Tourism Infrastructure Plan as adopted. Also, describe the specific county tourism infrastructure needs the project addresses and how the project directly increases tourism. Explain how the improvements will promote tourism in Kittitas County and indicate specifically how the improvements will directly increase economic activity resulting from tourists (see the definition of tourist on page 3 of this application). The project enhances and elevates the opportunity for tourism by drawing attention to the many historic and new attractions and activities within the City of Ellensburg. The look and feel of the signs and posts adds an inviting touch as people travel throughout the city. Because of the many positive aspects of the Vehicular Directional signs the Wayfinding Master Plan supports all 12 goals of the Kittitas County Tourism Infrastructure Plan. The Wayfinding Master Plan supports the goals of the KC Tourism Infrastructure Plan. In a similar way, the Vehicular Directional signs will foster tourism by providing a welcoming and informative atmosphere as visitors navigate within the city to enjoy Ellensburg's many amenities. Attractive and inviting Vehicle Direction guide signs throughout the City will create a positive experience for tourists that will increase the chances of a return visit or referral. Ellensburg tourism will benefit from returning tourists and positive referrals, increasing economic activity due to a larger volume of customers visiting the many local businesses.