Park Signs for Public Open Spaces
Park sign range from large, feature entrance signs to Interpretation Panels, directional signs, waymarkers, by-laws, traffic control signs and lockable notice boards. This section should provide you with some inspiration on ways to promote facilities, and how to educate, influence and control the movement of your visitors.
Most Park Sign projects start with us providing a quote. You can contact us via email, the enquiry form or give us a call – we are always happy to chat through your requirements.
Some clients know exactly what they want and provide a detailed brief. Other clients are looking for guidance and to explore options – we are happy to work with you to define your project.
At Shelley Signs we specialise in the production of park signage and panels for public open spaces, nature reserves and visitor attractions. Our range of entrance signs, interpretation panels, information boards & directional wayfinding signs offers high-quality print together with a 10-year warranty against fading and great durability. We offer a wide range of framing options in aluminium and timber.
We work with a wide variety of clients ranging from Local Authorities to Parish Councils as well as Friends Groups, Trusts, designers and contractors.
To start the process please complete the enquiry form or call 01743 460996 for more details.
Graphic Design
We can work from your own electronic artwork OR we can work with you to design your park signs. Shelley’s design input will depend on your own skills. We can design from all your component parts, supply illustrations, create artwork for maps and either research or edit text. Please explore the detailed Design Section of this website or discuss your requirements with Rob Shelley on Tel. 01743 460996
Framing
Park entrance signs usually aim to make an impact. Interpretive panels, however, are more likely to be discreet. Your desired effect can be achieved through your choice of size, shape, colour and fixing structure. We also suggest you try and match and blend with existing street furniture.
Common framing materials include oak, pressure-treated softwood, or steel – either galvanised and powder-coated, or stainless steel. Park Entrance signs tend to be vertically mounted. Lectern frames, with the display at an angle, tend to be popular for interpretation panels.
Content
The overall design and content of signs for parks and public open spaces is critical to its success and usage. Entrance or welcome signs should be striking, and they should quickly outline facilities available. Here are some notes:
- Content and design – ‘Less is more’ is a good principle to follow when writing text. Keep your content brief, and your design simple.
- Maps – Keep them really simple. Nobody will remember more detail.
- Text/Messages – It is tempting to combine several messages onto a few signs. However, our experience suggests that spreading your content onto more, smaller signs will increase the impact of each message.
- Directing and controlling visitor flow – Consider using directional finger posts, waymarker discs and waymarker posts, or bollards.
- Detailed Byelaws – Often displayed on the back of the main signs, with the key rules shown on the face of the sign or on a separate plank
- QR codes and Tags – A good way of encouraging visits to your website, so worth considering.
Materials
There is a wide choice of materials for the printing and finishing of park signs. All of them try to provide a solution that produces attractive, high-quality print, in a vandal-resistant finish, with excellent colour fastness.
Shelley Signs recommends encapsulated Glass Reinforced Plastic. This is a tough and robust finish for outdoor graphics that doesn’t detract from the quality of the print. It is also tried and tested. Shelley also work with a wide variety of other materials including polycarbonate, acrylic, foamex, and various timbers.
Park Entrance Signs
Park entrance signs come in a variety of forms, from car park signage to interpretation panels providing further information to visitors. Sometimes park signage includes a notice board feature, allowing for the display of local information and temporary notices.
Many entrance signs particularly in car parks are made from aluminium or steel for durability, with a powder-coated finish in a wide range of colours. Park signage is often designed to be weather resistant and low maintenance, as well as being vandal resistant.
Welcome Signs
In keeping with the natural environment, many park entrance signs are made from wood. This could be in the form of a sandblasted wooden sign, or a simple post and panel system with a timber frame and infill panel.
A wooden sign can be highly visible, providing a warm and inviting look, as well as being sympathetic to the surroundings. They can also be easily incorporated into landscaping schemes.
Footpath Signs
Footpath signs are an important part of park signage, as they help visitors to navigate their way around parks. They can include interpretation within them, like the sandblasted footpath sign here, produced on behalf of The National Trust.
A footpath sign may include waymarkers, which help visitors to find their way around the park, as well as directional signs and distance markers. These signs can be placed at regular intervals along footpaths, or at key junctions.
Finger Posts
Bollards are another common form of park signage that are normally produced in either oak or top quality, pressure-treated softwood to ensure longer life. While bollards can be used to control traffic flow in a park environment they offer a discreet way to direct visitors and can include waymarker discs or routed images.
Notice Boards
Notice boards are popular in a park environment. They are hinged and lockable, and ideal for displaying further information that is frequently changing. Notice boards can be produced in either aluminium or timber.
They are normally glazed, with shatterproof polycarbonate, and are supplied with a pinboard or metal backer [for use with magnets]. Metal backers can be printed on, giving you an attractive and individual backboard.
Summary
Shelley Signs are specialist suppliers of entrance signs, directional signs and information signs for parks and public open spaces. We can supply design, printed graphics, frames and structures, and can get involved at whatever stage of your project you want us to.
All our work, except steel fabrication, is undertaken in-house at our Shropshire factory, which you are welcome to visit to assess our capabilities.
Gallery
Print Materials
Shelley Signs specialise in the design and production of high quality panels for visitor attractions, parks, nature reserves and public spaces. This page outlines our services but you are welcome to visit our Shropshire factory to assess our capabilities for yourself.
Framing Options for interpretation & park signs
Shelley Signs design and supply a wide range of lectern frames, post and bespoke structures in timber and steel for outdoor, external interpretive signs and interpretation panels.
