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Interpetive signs and displays along trails

Trails and greenways create an opportunity to teach visitors about history, the environment, and the community. One of the attractions of trails is that they provide a close look at natural areas, neighborhoods, or wild places. This "sense of place" is what brings people back to a pathway. Many trails are specifically designed as "nature trails" to teach school groups and the public about a particular habitat or ecosystem. Others, such as the examples here, are just typical trails where managers have provided one or a few displays on local topics of interest. Many different kinds of signs are in use, from the basic plaque to large gazebo-style exhibits.

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(photos by Stuart Macdonald)

Classic vertical display board on the Lomaki Trail, which accesses Pueblo ruins sites in Wupatki National Monument in northeast Arizona; photo by Stuart Macdonald, 10 Aug 2009

Interpretive signs on a short trail near Leadville, CO overlooking the Sawatch mountain range; photo by Stuart Macdonald, 1 July 2008

Metal structure creates a substantial interpretive display along the Platte River Greenway, Denver, CO; photo by Stuart Macdonald, Dec 2010

Celebrating the explorers and fur traders who travelled along what is now the Platte River Greenway, Denver, CO; photo by Stuart Macdonald, Dec 2010

Artistic interpretive sign along the Wissahickon Valley Trail, Philadelphia; photo by Stuart Macdonald 6 Oct 2008

Sign teaching about the Battle of Germantown along the Wissahickon Valley Trail, Philadelphia; photo by Stuart Macdonald 6 Oct 2008

Several historic bridges along the Schuykill River Trail in Philadelphia are described in signage; photo by Stuart Macdonald, 6 Oct 2008

Interpreting narrow-gauge railroad history at the Colorao Trail on Kenosha Pass; photo by Stuart Macdonald, 1 Oct 2008

Prehistoric interpretation along Box Canyon Trail, Wupatki National Monument, northeast Arizona; photo by Stuart Macdonald, 11 Aug 2009

Sign at a key habitat area on the Olympic Discovery Trail, Washington; photo by Stuart Macdonald, 15 Sept 2008

Interpreting salmmon habitat and estruary restoration along the Olympic Discovery Trail, Washington; photo by Stuart Macdonald, 15 Sept 2008

Another example of environmental education focused on the topic of Nature and community balance along The Colony Shoreline Trail, TX

Sign at Elk Meadow Park west of Denver tells visitors about the role their sales tax pays in preserving Jefferson County Open Space; photo by Stuart Macdonald, 17 Oct 2009

The natural histor of fire is the topic in Big Cypress Trail in Goethe State Forest, central Florida; photo by Stuart Macdonald, 9 July 2009

The big bay is the topic of signs along San Diego's harborside trail; photo by Stuart Macdonald, Sept 2008

Town history along the Willamette River Trai through downtown Corvalis, OR; photo by Stuart Macdonald, Sept 2008

The Colony Shoreline Trail, Texas

Plaque set into brick pavers along the Schuykill River Greenway, Philadelphia; photo by Stuart Macdonald, 6 Sept 2008