Thornhill Trails Maple Ridge
CLIENT
City of Maple Ridge
Thornhill Trails, Maple Ridge, British Columbia
BACKGROUND
Thornhill Trails in Maple Ridge, is known for steep slopes, mature forest and watercourses, and as a popular trail destination for hikers, equestrian users and mountain biking enthusiasts. With increasing popularity of the trails, safety concerns had been raised, and users complained about a disregard for trail etiquette. Ion was engaged by the City of Maple Ridge to develop wayfinding planning and signage design for Thornhill Trails.
Striking a balance between visibility, authority and the environment to keep the trails natural vibe.
Trail heads greet visitors and introduce them to appropriate etiquette using iconography and humourous inclusive language to keep the program light, friendly and memorable. A colour coded icon and map system indicates trail use to orientate users. The dark grey sign face fits into the natural environment without drawing too much attention, while bright pops of colour take influence from the trails’ newest user group with their brightly coloured bike frames. Large white typography ensures high contrast and legibility. The chosen typeface features a slightly rough and rustic quality that adds character and warmth, while alluding to the trails’ horseback riding history.
Smart solutions with big impact.
Simplifying the signage programme was key in order to make the wayfinding effective, consistent and easy to maintain. With a mix of existing city and user added artistic signage, it was important to not overpower the natural space nor create a situation that required a large amounts of upkeep. Small tree mounted trail markers and safety signs helped achieve a minimal identification and information system. Smart placement of vertical signs aid downhill bike users at high speed, while flexible materials keep safety in mind, should a rider crash into them.
We’ve had some great feedback on the sign system. People are really liking the QR code to the map and the colour system.
— Chad Neufeld, Manager of Parks Planning & Development
