On Saturday, February 10, 2018, we unveiled an interpretive sign at the Pasadena Drive Coastal Access in Baywood Park. The sign provides information about the local natural and cultural history. The access point is the largest one in a residential area in the county.
The new sign is designed to educate and improve the visitors’ experience. It tells the story and significance of the place and is designed to stimulate the visitor’s interest while challenging their imagination.
The sign was funded by a $2,895 grant from the county’s Infrastructure Grant program and $2,229 in-kind donations. We have worked in partnership with the San Luis Obispo County Parks Department, the Morro Bay National Estuary Program, and Grace Environmental Services to complete this project. Well-known artist, Paula Zima (the creator of our beloved Bridge Bears) did the artwork for the sign.
Photos by Pandora Nash-Karner and Gene Kalland
Pasadena Drive Interpretive Sign - A story of collaboration
SLO Co Infrastructure grant for sign to educate and improve visitors’ experiences in Los Osos-Baywood Park. The sign was designed by Paula Zima and constructed by KVO Industries, Santa Rosa, California.
Interpretative signs tell the important story of a place and are designed to stimulate visitors’ interest while challenging their imaginations. Our completed project provides a long-lasting, low maintenance interpretative sign at a popular public coastal access used by locals and visitors. Original illustrations and clear language was created to highlight historical and cultural features, and inspire visitors to take action to protect Morro Bay.
Partnerships:
We worked with the San Luis Obispo County Parks Department; Los Osos Community Services District’s management company, Grace Engineering; Morro Bay National Estuary Program, and the Los Osos•Baywood Chamber of Commerce to complete this project.
Cost:
The grant fully enabled us to complete this project. We had the good fortune of in-kind services and discounted offsets to make this project affordable. The art work, fabrication of the high pressure laminate and the manufacture of the cantilever style supports came in within our expected budget of $2895.00
Installation:
The sign was installed on February 9 by Grace Engineering at no cost and we had an official unveiling and ribbon-cutting on Saturday, February 10.
We worked with the Morro Bay National Estuary Program’s Executive Director, Lexie Bell and the SLO County Park Department to define the most appropriate topics for this sign. With their help we developed the text, and it has already been approved.
We choose Paula Zima, a well-known illustrator and artist for the sign’s graphics. We selected KVO Industries to manufacture the sign specifically because they produced the high quality Whale Trail interpretative signs and frames. SLO County Park Department has approved their sign system and have already installed one at the Cayucos Pier.
The sign will include:
1 - 36” x 24” x 1⁄2” exterior grade high pressure graphic laminate and one set of KVO Streamline Cantilever-style supports, made of aluminum with a powder coated finish. The sign will be installed in-ground with concrete footings.
The system consists of a standard post and backing plate assembly that attaches to the graphic panel with security screws, creating a clean, frameless look. The system is shipped disassembled (for ease of shipping and to keep costs to a minimum) with all necessary hardware and complete instructions for installation. The staff and management from the Los Osos Community Services District will provide the installation at no cost.
Partners and contractors:
1.) Technical information and statistics: Morro Bay National Estuary Program, no cost
2.) Contextual information and support: SLO County Parks Department, no cost
3.) Copywriting: Lynette Tornatzky, Celebrate Los Osos, no cost
4.) Illustration: Paula Zima, artist fee
5.) Electronic pre-press: Pandora & Company, no cost
6.) Sign construction: KVO Industries, manufacturing cost
7.) Installation: Los Osos Community Services District, no cost
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