PEORIA, Ill. – The Peoria City Council approved something that some residents have said are useless, but some might see as a huge help to local tourism efforts.
Council members…backing the spending of $683,000 for new what are called “wayfinding signs” throughout the downtown area…designed to help tourists learn their way around and find out what’s available.
But, council members wondered why so much money is being spent on…just signs?
“(The money pays for) the signage, the content, the technology behind it – keep in mind there’s going to be QR codes,” said Rick Powers, Public Works Director. “We’re going to have to do moorings underground, within sidewalks, where there are utilities. So it’s not going to be just the signs.”
More than 70 signs will be put up. The QR codes will have information about local businesses in the areas the signs are located.
“There will be an entity that will keep that database current on what businesses are in the area and how they’re located. We could actually create something along the lines of…we can’t go tactile because there’s no common standard for braille or something on these signs…but you can actually incorporate sound, and do like audio direction and tours and so on,” said Powers.
While the council vote was unanimous, at least some council members wondered if there might be a better way to go.
“I’m not sure that a QR code is the best use of space, because if they have a cell phone that can read a QR code, that cell phone can pull up Google Maps or Apple Maps and see where they are anyway, and go wherever they can try to go,” said Mike Vespa, At Large Council Member.
The QR code won’t just provide directions, said Powers, as they will also have more specific information about particular businesses.
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