Install new signage on hiking trails - Parkwide

Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park » Install new signage on hiking trails - Parkwide » Document List

The National Park Service, Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, will improve hiking trail signage throughout the park with the installation of concrete trail markers. Many of the existing signs are degraded, with many signs missing or damaged beyond use. The lack of signage causes confusion for trail users. It also poses a safety risk for search and rescue personnel trying to locate injured or missing persons.

The project will construct new posts from concrete with trail information cast (recessed/imprinted) into the concrete. These signs will be installed to replace all existing and missing signs, only. They will be located at trail heads, trail intersections, and other necessary locations along long stretches of trail.

The replacement of these signs will be undertaken, primarily, under the direction of the park's trail coordinator. Other division support is anticipated. The project will take several years to completely implement.

The placement of these concrete trail markers will be used only for hiking trails. Markers will not be placed along the historic towpath.

Locations for signs in areas that currently do not have existing or previous signs will be processed individually through compliance to ensure that location will not impact park resources. Construction and installation, upon location approval, will follow the procedures outlined in this compliance package.

The park's Interdisciplinary Team reviewed the project for impacts to natural and cultural resources. The project does not pose any serious or long-term effects to the environmental, historical, cultural, archeological, or visual resources. It meets categorical exclusion #C.5 – Installation of signs, displays, and kiosks.

The project also meets the National Historic Preservation Act/Section 106 Programmatic Agreement, Exclusions #IV.B 12 – erection of signs, wayside exhibits, and memorial plaques.



Contact Information

For further information about this project, please contact Trails Coordinator, at 1850 Dual Highway, Suite 100, Hagerstown, MD 21740.