VISIT Milwaukee, Milwaukee Downtown, Business Improvement District (BID) #21 and the City of Milwaukee have partnered to install new wayfinding signage around Downtown to help direct pedestrians to landmarks like The Pabst Theater, the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts and the new 3rd Street Market Hall.
The signs, installed on existing poles and infrastructure, each list three sites and were created using a modular design that allows for them to be more easily updated and changed.
The 20 new vehicular signs and more than 40 pedestrian signs – which will be installed in coming weeks – replace previous signage dating to 2002. They are part of a broader plan to improve the means for helping visitors navigate Downtown, including digital kiosks announced a few months ago and maps incorporated into Bublr Bike stations.
"Thanks to the collaborative spirit of VISIT Milwaukee and Milwaukee Downtown, BID #21, the new wayfinding signage will complement new CityPost interactive kiosks being installed by the City of Milwaukee later this spring," said Jeff Polenske, commissioner of public works for the City of Milwaukee, in a statement Wednesday.
"The design will carry through to other applications across the City of Milwaukee for a more comprehensive wayfinding and information experience."
The signs were designed by Corbin Design and manufactured and installed by Poblocki Sign Company.
The designs feature industrial-inspired exposed rivets, elements nodding at the Hoan Bridge and beer kegs, and blue to reflect the water of Lake Michigan.
The signs have been installed now ahead of the Democratic National Convention, USA Triathlon Age Group National Championships, and Ryder Cup.
"Part of what has attracted major events to Milwaukee is our compact, walkable downtown and how easy it is to navigate the city," said Peggy Williams-Smith, president and CEO of VISIT Milwaukee, in today’s statement.
"These signs improve visitor and local experience in a logical way. This means the overall visitor experience improves, and that ultimately benefits our destination’s tourism economy."
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
