Maximizing Harmony on the Beach: Improving
Dog Ordinance Signage
• The goal of this project is to promote positive coexistence between dog owners, beachgoers, local wildlife, and enforcement agencies by ensuring that clear, visible, and easily understood guidance is provided at the right decision points.
• Currently, existing dog-related signage is:
• Overly complicated and text-heavy
• Difficult to read, particularly while managing a leashed or excited dog
• Weathered and illegible in places
• Located after the key decision-making points for dog owners
• By addressing these weaknesses, we can better support compliance, protect sensitive beach ecosystems (like bird habitats and turtle nests), and foster a welcoming environment for all visitors.
Existing Signage
• Current view at the entrance to the boardwalk.
• No visible signage regarding dog policies.
• Visitors with dogs encounter no guidance at this critical entry point where decisions are made about leashing, bag use, and compliance.
Existing Signage
• A midway point on the boardwalk within SIPOA jurisdiction.
• Still no clear signage regarding dogs, though owners are focused and have their dogs under control.
• A potential secondary location for signage placement.
Existing Signage
• Current beach rules signage at the end of the boardwalk.
• Text-heavy, weathered, and hard to read, especially while handling a dog.
• Instructions come too late — past the point where owners can make proactive decisions.
Proposed Change: Dog Ordinance Signs at Entry Decision Points
• New, simplified, and visually clear signs positioned next to existing poop bag dispensers at boardwalk entrances.
• This placement ensures visibility at the moment when owners decide how to manage their dogs.
• Secondary option: placement at midway boardwalk points, still within SIPOA authority.
• Signs designed to align with existing aesthetic guidelines (or not) and structured for easy biannual updates to reflect seasonal rule changes.
• Goal: Support dog owner compliance while enhancing beach experience for all stakeholders.
Potential Sign Placement: Option 1
• Mounted directly on or just below the existing poop bag dispenser pole.
• This location offers high visibility as owners naturally pause here to collect bags and prepare for their beach visit.
• Signage can be sized appropriately without overwhelming the space.
Potential
Sign Placement: Option 2
• Attached to the side of the trash bins near the boardwalk entrance.
• While feasible, visibility is reduced due to lower sightlines and clutter.
• Dog owners may overlook signage here, particularly during busy times or when bins are in use.
Potential Sign Placement: Option 3
• Mounted on the pole displaying the "No Public Access" sign.
• Visibility at this location is limited due to sign height and position.
• Not an optimal choice for clear communication to dog owners entering the beach.
Potential Sign Placement: Option 4
• Midway boardwalk placement offers high visibility with an uncluttered look at the entrance.
• Provides a clear visual reminder just before stepping onto the beach, reinforcing rules when owners still have control of their dogs.
• However, it comes later in the decisionmaking process, after initial choices about leashing and bag use have typically been made.
• Positioned within SIPOA jurisdiction, it allows for a differentiated design but may have less impact on proactive compliance.
Visual Design Considerations for New Dog Ordinance Signs
The next step is to ensure the visual design of the signs maximizes readability, usability, and aesthetic harmony with existing beach signage. Our design approach is guided by established usability principles. Signs should:
• Be large enough to be seen and processed quickly, but balanced to avoid visual clutter.
• Have high contrast between text/icons and background to ensure readability in varied lighting conditions.
• Use fonts that are bold, sans-serif, and sized for quick reading from 5–10 feet away.
• Use universal symbols to aid comprehension across languages and reduce reading time.
• Match the look and feel of existing SIPOA and beach signage.
• Use clear, concise messaging with recognizable icons and minimal text, reducing the cognitive load on dog owners, especially when managing their pets.
• Be designed to allow easy biannual updates.
• Use materials that withstand sun, salt air, wind, and rain without fading or degrading.
Overall Icons
Buoys that divide regulated areas of beach
No dogs allowed at any time
Dogs permitted off leash on voice command
Dogs permitted but must be on leash
Boardwalk
Explore Color Options for Maximum Impact
Before diving into full design layouts, we will first focus on how color choices can enhance clarity, visibility, and immediate understanding of the signs. We’ll explore different color schemes that align with SIPOA guidelines while using intuitive color cues — such as red, green, and yellow — to signal key rules and behaviors effectively.
Option 1:
• Ideally, the sign design incorporates colors that carry immediate, recognizable cues — using red, green, and yellow to intuitively signal restrictions, permissions, and cautions.
• High-contrast color schemes are essential to ensure visibility against varied beach and boardwalk backgrounds, maximizing readability and impact even at a glance.
Option 2:
• This option uses the colors consistent with SIPOA’s existing signage, ensuring visual cohesion and minimizing clutter.
• The key advantage is aesthetic harmony with other signs on the boardwalk.
• However, this approach may sacrifice impact, visibility, and saliency — reducing the likelihood that dog owners will immediately notice the sign and adjust behavior accordingly.
Tailored Sign Sets for Each Boardwalk
• The proposed solution includes a set of two interchangeable signs at each boardwalk — one displaying the Off Season Dog Rules and one for the Busy Season Dog Rules. Signs can be easily swapped biannually to reflect current regulations, ensuring clarity and compliance throughout the year.
• 3 different sign sets as needed for the different boardwalks.
• Boardwalk 1
• Boardwalks 2-7
• Boardwalk 9
Boardwalk 1
Boardwalks 2-7
Boardwalk
Summary
Goals:
• Promote harmony between dog owners, beachgoers, wildlife, and staff.
• Provide clear, visible, easily understood guidance.
Impact:
• Improved compliance & protection of sensitive areas.
• Reduced confusion; efficient seasonal updates.
Proposal:
• Strategic placement of signs.
• Two seasonal panels per location.
• Three tailored sets: Boardwalk 1, 2-7, & 9.
Thank you!
Prepared for SIDOGS
by Somer Hand: Human Factors Engineer