Medina tourism leader suggests more signs for attractions, parking
Photo by Tom Rivers: Jim Hancock, chairman of the Medina Tourism Committee, said the Visitor’s Center at Rotary Park had a 17 percent increase in registered visitors this past summer.
MEDINA – The Medina Visitor’s Center at Rotary Park welcomed 220 registered guests from Memorial Day to Labor Day, a 17 percent increase from the previous season.
Jim Hancock, the Tourism Committee chairman, shared the news with the Medina Village Board on Monday.
The center is staffed by volunteers from Monday through Friday. This was the second season at Rotary Park. Previously the volunteer had a welcome center at City Hall.
Hancock said the Rotary Park location is more ideal. It’s closer to the canal where boaters and cyclists often stop to see the downtown business district.
Hancock said adding signage on the main thoroughfares, directing people to the Erie Canal and public parking lots, would likely get more people to stop in the downtown.
“Many of the visitors don’t realize there is a parking lot behind Main Street,” Hancock told the Village Board. “There is also no sign on Center Street or Main Street pointing to the canal.”
Mayor Mike Sidari said the state Department of Transportation has told the village it already has too many signs on Main Street.
Village officials however have a plan to add signs as part of the Medina Local Waterfront Revitalization Program. A committee with input from the community developed a plan to improve the waterfront areas surrounding the Erie Canal, Glenwood Lake and Oak Orchard River.
Sidari said the village expects to receive state funding to implement components of the plan, including signage for local attractions.
In the short-term, Hancock said smaller sandwich signs could be put on sidewalks directing people to the parking lot, canal and other attractions.
Hancock also said some of the cyclists who pass through the community would like a spot to pitch a tent for the night. He suggested State Street Park have designated camping spots, and those people register with the village so the police are aware of their presence.
Sidari said camp sites are included in the waterfront plan.
Hancock encouraged the village to work on that, even if there isn’t state funding.
The Tourism Committee welcomes more volunteers next year, and would like to expand to Saturday, Hancock said.
