Can You Show Me the Way to SSU? City Spent $9K on "Wayfinding" Signs

Rohnert Park has spent $9,000 on seven “wayfinding” signs they hope will help guide out of town visitors from the freeway to the new Green Music Center and Spreckles Performing Arts Center and help connect the two venues to the rest of the city.

“The idea is that with the opening of the Green Music Center, there would be a lot of cars coming off the freeway and the signs are directionals to help people find their way to these destinations,” said Marilyn Ponton, a planning and building manager for Rohnert Park.

Five signs have been placed on Rohnert Park Expressway, including at Commerce Boulevard, State Farm Drive, Country Club Drive, Snyder Lane and Petaluma Hill Road.

There will also be a sign at the 101 northbound off ramp and Commerce Boulevard and another on southbound Commerce Boulevard south of Hinebough.

Residents have been critical of the project, arguing the money could have been better spent on reopening the M section pool or improvements at city parks.

“That is the biggest waste of tax-payer dollars,” wrote Dana Cicanese Miller on Rohnert Park Patch’s Facebook page. “Let’s spruce up the parks or fix the potholes around town. Maybe even spend that money to try to attract a big corporation to town to give us some non-minimum wage jobs.”

Others wondered why the signs were needed when so many drivers rely on GPS or smart phones for directions, and at a time when the city is facing a $2.3 million budget shortfall.

“It’s too much when they claim to be broke,” wrote Sue Hines Yasinitsky. “How does directing traffic to SSU and Spreckles bring in revenue for the city and other businesses?” 

Rohnert Park says the wayfinding program, used by many cities around the country, acts as an “identifier” that creates a path for people not familiar with the area, guiding them to key attractions such as the Green Music Center.

What's your take? Do you think the signs help link the city to SSU and the Green Music Center?