before

Poplar & First by City Hall & Rosa Parks Square: This intersection presents an opportunity to truly welcome people to the Macon-Bibb government center with an “oval-about.” This will help keep traffic flowing but also provide a visual marker for Navicent employees just a few blocks away. Median islands on Poplar and First Streets will complement the ovala-bout and direct and slow traffic. Pronounced crosswalks will make it easier for pedestrians to navigate the intersection (and make their way to Rosa Parks Square!).

East Macon/Mounds on Coliseum at Clinton Street: The intersection of Coliseum at Clinton Street currently resembles many suburban intersections and does not represent a gateway to either the East Macon neighborhood or the Ocmulgee National Monument. There is no signage for the Ocmulgee National Monument at the existing approach to Clinton Street, which currently leads to a bicycle and pedestrian entrance of the park. The parcel north of Clinton Street is currently vacant, and the parking lot does not serve as the best entrance to Macon’s first Neighborhood or the National Monument. These areas could be creatively landscaped to create a bolder and greener entrance to the park that hints at the unique landscape within the future Ocmulgee Mounds National Park and Preserve. See Strategy 2.3c for details.

Macon-Bibb County should lead the design and construction of these pedestrian safety and connectivity improvements and work with additional partners, including Georgia DOT, the Medical Center, UDA, Hay House, and individual businesses. The cost of these improvements will be high and likely require outside funding.

1.4c) Develop a signage & wayfinding system for key destinations, major employers and parking areas in the Urban Core

Background: College Hill recently installed wayfinding signage throughout the Corridor to direct visitors traveling by car or on foot to major destinations. Beyond navigational cues, the signage communicates the College Hill brand, and in doing so helps to announce your arrival in the Corridor. Much like College Hill, Macon’s broader Urban Core will benefit from a consistent signage and wayfinding system that directs people to main hubs like Navicent, Mercer, Government Center, and downtown’s central business district, destinations like the proposed Ocmulgee National Park and Preserve or the Ocmulgee Heritage Trail, as well as parking areas that serve these crowd-attracting uses.

Key ideas: wayfinding for key destinations, consistent signage, signage for parking lots & structures

Action: Wayfinding for key destinations Design a palette of signs to assist with wayfinding for key destinations within the Urban Core. Sign design and size should vary according to intended location from gateways at entrances to the Urban Core, to the street network within the Core, to the Ocmulgee Heritage Trail, and deployment of signs must be thoughtful and selective to avoid cluttering Macon’s public realm with too much signage. Convene a sub-committee of designers and representatives from major Urban Core institutions to spearhead the initiative.

Consistent signage In concert Strategy 1.5a, whiW recommends branding Macon’s Urban Core, MAP must coordinate with key institutions in the Urban Core to ensure that the new signage and wayfinding system speaks the same graphic language resulting in consistent signage that not only helps visitors navigate to their destinations but also increases legibility of the Urban Core as a whole. As College Hill recently installed wayfinding in the Corridor, that signage should serve as a starting point for the design to ensure cohesiveness. Navicent’s preparations to invest in wayfinding within its medical campus present an opportunity for MAP to partner and collaborate in the design and deployment of the next round of signage.

Signage for parking lots & structures In addition to wayfinding for destinations, the MAP process revealed that Macon’s Urban Core also needs signage for parking lots and structures that clearly communicates how to find off-street parking, and who can park in which lots and parking garages, when. Beyond directional signage installed downtown, create an online parking map as a resource for businesses and institutions that draw guests from near and far. Strategy 4.1e provides additional details about how to increase public use of available off-street parking through signage.