A local artist’s drawings of some of Peekskill’s iconic structures were selected to illustrate the new wayfinding signs that were installed this week around Peekskill. Emily Barrett, owner of Fox Burrow Designs, was awarded the contract as the local collaborator by the Charlotte, NC manufacturer of the signage.
Peekskill planner Peter Erwin saw Barrett’s work at a Small Business Saturday pop up shop last November and connected her with ACSM Design and Build. Erwin knew the company valued using local talent to enhance the maps they build.
The project, started in 2022 with funding from the state Downtown Revitalization Initiative, includes 58 signs around the city directing people to parking locations and attractions. The four pedestrian map kiosks that feature Barrett’s art are at the entrance to the parking lot on Central Avenue across from Bruised Apple and Valley Greens, at the Main Street entrance to Pugsley Park, on Park Street next to the entrance to the James Street garage and on Hudson Avenue right by the Metro North tracks.
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The pedestrian kiosk on Railroad Avenue. Artist Emily Barrett suggested to the company that fabricated the signs that the kiosk should include a breakout (in the lower left hand corner) of Fleischman Pier. (Submitted)
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Closeup detail of QR codes for various city organizations. (Regina Clarkin)
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One of the 24 pedestrian wayfaring signs. This is at the corner of Central and Nelson avenues. (Submitted)
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The pedestrian wayfinding sign at the Metro North train tracks directs people to the parks up Hudson Avenue and to downtown. (Submitted)
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The pedestrian kiosk on Park Street at the entrance to the James Street garage is under one of Peekskill’s major murals.
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The fourth pedestrian kiosk is at the Main Street entrance to Pugsley Park. (Annie Strong)
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The pedestrian kiosk on Railroad Avenue. Artist Emily Barrett suggested to the company that fabricated the signs that the kiosk should include a breakout (in the lower left hand corner) of Fleischmann Pier. (Submitted)
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One of the 12 parking lot designation signs in the downtown.
In addition to the pedestrian wayfinding signs, there are 16 directional signs showing where parking is available, 12 parking lot identification signs, 24 pedestrian wayfinding signs and two downtown gateway signs. The downtown has 47 signs, the waterfront has seven signs and four are in between, near gateways to the downtown. “Most intersections downtown will have two pedestrian signs located on opposite corners so pedestrians can access them from both sides of the street,” said Erwin. “The locations were selected to focus primarily on guiding vehicles to parking facilities without circling downtown for street parking which contributes to congestion, and guiding pedestrians from parking facilities to downtown points of interest. A second priority is establishing the walking and cycling route between the Metro-North station and downtown,” explained Erwin.
Each sign cost between $2,000 and $4,000 to manufacture, with the exception of the four map kiosks and two downtown gateway signs, which are larger and more expensive. Including the costs for design, shipping, and installation, the project cost $288,750 over two years, fully funded by the DRI grant.
The signs left Charlotte last Friday on a flatbed truck and arrived in Peekskill on Monday. Four technicians from ACSM came to install the signs around Peekskill. The signs are made of ½” thick powder-coated aluminum. They are all set in concrete foundations with breakaway bolts, which help minimize damage if they are struck by a vehicle, etc. The pedestrian kiosk was unveiled by city officials on Tuesday afternoon. All the signs are expected to be installed by Friday.
