Finding your way around the Woo

Nice overview of the cities ongoing wayfinding project in the T&G today, courtesy of Nick Kotsopoulos. The goal, in short, is to create a system of signage for visitors to get from point A to point B without getting lost in all the fluff in between. The plan has raised criticism from all corners of the city. Some cultural activists have shown concern with the decision to go with Arlington-based design firm Selbert Perkins Design Collaborative for the preliminary work instead of relying on local designers. Questions about the cost involved have just about every other conceivable activist ready to pounce on the notion that this is the best way we can spend our money. And of course, the East Siders are miffed that their neck of the woods is getting less attention than the West Side.

City councilors have also raised questions about what destination points would be identified by the signs and who will be determining which ones are identified. Mr. Clancy and District 2 Councilor Philip P. Palmieri complained about the paucity of attractions that have been identified so far in Worcester’s East Side compared to the West Side.

Sorry about that Phil, we thought you guys were sick of us uppity West Siders loitering in your watering holes and figured we would give you a break from all the attention. Is it just me or is there a little Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde going on here? Maybe if district 2 would provide the rest of us with a list of destinations worthy of our presence, we could avoid this petty crap.

Anyway, good read. As ridiculous a city Worcester can be to traverse, there is an easy fix; just remove any expectation that a visitor will navigate like a local and provide signage that gets you to grandmas house, over the river but without having to get through the woods.

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