Easthampton seeks input on downtown signage

EASTHAMPTON — In an effort to create a clearer and more cohesive downtown, the city is asking for input from the public on how to implement new signage to guide people through the main streets of Easthampton.

The city is asking residents, business owners and visitors to fill out a 22-question survey, assessing their overall thoughts on the downtown area, including Cottage, Union, Main and Pleasant streets, along with parts of neighboring roads. The aim is to create a system of signage to improve how people move through and experience Easthampton’s downtown districts.

“Wayfinding is about more than just signs — it’s about creating a welcoming, accessible, and easy-to-navigate city for everyone,” Mayor Salem Derby said in a statement. “We want to hear from the community about what’s working, what’s not and what improvements would make the biggest impact.”

The survey is part of Phase II of the City’s Downtown Wayfinding Plan, an initiative supported by a Massachusetts Downtown Initiative (MDI) grant worth approximately $30,000. The city received a previous $15,000 grant from the same program as well, and is working with transportation planners from Stantec on the project.

Responses will be collected through April 12 and community members are encouraged to share their experiences traveling through Easthampton, including how they find local businesses, parks, cultural destinations and parking.

Designs for the signage were already established in Phase I of the plan, which started in 2020 and ended in 2021. The designs established what the city calls “a unified visual identity,” that will guide future decisions based on the survey results.

“There wasn’t really much study done of existing signage gaps in existing signage or priorities,” said Director of Planning and Community Development Allyson Manuel. “Phase II is going to address all of that.”

Manuel said the survey will hopefully reveal perspectives from residents and visitors on the challenges of navigating downtown to use as input. The intention is to use the designs made from Phase I, with potential slight changes such as choosing a clearer font. Depending on the results, further changes could be made.

“We do tend to hear that the Cottage Street areas are disconnected from the Mill District, so we want to direct people and get them to visit all areas of downtown,” Manuel said.

Moving forward, Manuel said the city is applying for another grant by June that would allow the city to purchase and install the signs. A public presentation of Phase II of the plan, including the survey, is expected later this spring as well.

“I hope people take the survey,” Manuel said. “We really value any insight that is offered from people who experience and live in downtown.”

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