Signs, sign, everywhere are signs, like the song says…. But this time we are talking about wayfinding signs!

The Catskills offer plenty of places to explore. Finding them should be the easy part. That’s where wayfinding signs come in—connecting residents and visitors with the trails, waterways, and recreational destinations that make this region special.

In 2015, the Catskill Watershed Corporation (CWC) received a $50,000 award through the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s Catskill Park Smart Growth Implementation Grant program. CWC matched the award, bringing the total investment to $100,000 to complete the recreational wayfinding sign system along roadways in and around the Catskill Park.

CWC partnered with Peter Manning of Genius Loci to bring the project to life. Working with NYS DOT, NYS DEC, and NYC DEP, Manning combined field surveys with an inventory of existing and proposed signs to develop signage plans using an online mapping system. 

The result: approximately 350 sign assemblies serving 101 recreational destinations, helping people spend less time searching and more time exploring.

The grant funded materials, while NYS DOT, NYC DEP, county highway departments, and local governments provided essential installation support. Their contributions put the plans into action and the signs along our roads.

It’s a lasting example of what regional partnerships can accomplish: better access to outdoor recreation, a more welcoming experience for visitors, and more ways to enjoy Watershed Living.

CWC is a locally based, locally staffed nonprofit supporting environmental protection, economic development, and education in the New York City Watershed West of the Hudson River.