Sign of the times

To the editor:

This past November, several signs were erected in Marina Park. These signs promote the Renew Thunder Bay program. These signs also contain a revised plan of Prince Arthur’s Landing. A plan that differs significantly from the Master Site Plan that was unveiled with much pomp and circumstance back in 2007. Information that may be of interest to the voters of Thunder Bay.

The locations of these signs are not exactly prominent and you have to wonder what purpose they are supposed to be serving. Just who are they for?

One sign is located next to the Pearl Street Closed sign across the tracks at the intersection of Pearl and Water Streets.

I am not sure who will be viewing this sign as I have been told that the area is a construction site and members of the public will be issued a notice of trespass for standing in that location and reading the sign. Putting a sign that is to be read by the public in an area that the public is not allowed to be in is confusing, I know, but never the less, that is where it is.

Another is located on the park side of the fence, across the tracks at the intersection of Red River Road and Water Streets.

The sign cannot be read by anyone without trespassing on railway property.
Trespassing on railway property is both dangerous and illegal and should not be encouraged, but I see no other way of reading that sign. Once again, locating a sign the public is supposed to read in an area the public cannot go.

The third location is just north of the skate park. This location, while being readily available to the public, is not situated on a route taken by the vast majority of people walking around the park. Also, the sign was erected in such a way that it is only visible when approached from the north so anyone who happens by chance to be walking through the parking lot from the opposite direction will not pay any attention to the sign.

More thought should been given to the sign locations. The erection process seemed rushed to get the Renew Thunder Bay message out there as soon as possible.

The Renew Thunder Bay program was discussed by council last Monday. The signs went up on Wednesday. Very quick.

I have personal experience with the poor sign placement that is unfortunately too common on the waterfront project.

All the signing on this $115 millioin appears to be cobbled together with no apparent planning or forethought as to what sign is placed where. Signs leaning against barricades. Signs meant for drivers located at ground level partially obscured by snow. It’s truly sad.

Another point of interest is that the Renew Thunder Bay signs were erected prior to city council giving Renew Thunder Bay a thumbs up ... by almost a week. I wonder who authorized the signs? At the time, I thought it was odd and wondered if the council vote on the Renew Thunder Bay program really was necessary as someone had already made a decision on the matter by ordering signs and having them erected.

I do not know what members of the public will see these signs in their present locations but I am sure that is not the point for the signs’ existence. The only purpose these signs can be serving is so that city administration/council can say that the signs were up ... somewhere.
I have checked the city’s website and have noticed this new and revised Master Plan is still absent. The newly revised Master Plan must be put on the city’s website.

All future newly revised Master Plans must be put on the city’s web site. As things are now, a person may get the idea that something is being deliberately hidden from the public. A person may get the idea that you believe the public will not be overly enthusiastic with the changes that have happened.

I know that the reduction in size of the waterfront plaza by around 50 per cent is a big deal with a lot of people I spoke with down there.

The taxpayers are being asked to pay for this project. The children of the taxpayers are also being asked to pay for this project. They have a right to know what is happening down there.
Jon Hutt,
Thunder Bay