Keystone Trail Signage and Wayfinding Plan

Project Overview

The Town of Keystone is at a unique point in its history, having been formally incorporated as a town in February 2024, only two years ago as of this writing. Many aspects of the town’s governance, structure, and character are just beginning to develop. This means that climate mitigation and sustainability efforts made now can help establish the character of the town, becoming part of the foundation it builds on as it grows. The process of becoming a town has also unlocked collective action and the capacity to take on new projects. One such project is the Trail Signage and Wayfinding Plan.

The Trail Signage and Wayfinding Plan aims to identify locations for improved signage and make it easier to travel locally by trail, reducing the need to drive. The plan aims to make walking in town easier, safer, and more enjoyable by directing foot traffic to the Recreation Path and Community Path. Guiding pedestrians along these paths will discourage walking on Highway 6, improving safety and making human-powered local travel more enjoyable and practical. The project will also support placemaking by identifying areas of high recreational and historic value, improving access to and awareness of local attractions for visitors. The Town of Keystone is partnering with CU Boulder Masters of the Environment student consultants to walk the paths and identify areas for improved signage. The plan will make existing trails easier to find and use, and make it easier to add new trails to the network.

Since incorporating, the town has also produced its first Strategic Marketing Plan, participated in the Summit County Outdoor Coalition’s Strategic Conservation and Recreation Plan, and developed a Comprehensive Plan. Keystone’s official status as a town has created greater opportunities for partnerships with organizations like the CU Boulder Masters of the Environment Program, the Summit County Outdoor Coalition, and the U.S. Forest Service. Decisions, plans, and projects like these have a unique opportunity right now to help shape the character of the Town of Keystone as it grows into its new status.

Beyond making the town and its attractions more accessible for residents and visitors, good signage has other benefits. By identifying recreation assets and historic sites, signage can improve visitors’ knowledge of local activities and support local business owners. A well-maintained trail system can also have climate resilience benefits, such as acting as a firebreak to reduce wildfire risk and giving mitigation crews access for fuel reduction work. Clearer signage will help reduce driving and CO2 emissions by making walking around town easier, more comfortable, safer, and more pleasant, and it could have economic benefits for the town as well.

Lessons Learned

Trail Information Challenge

Getting trails added to Google Maps and other wayfinding services would make them more accessible, especially for visitors unfamiliar with the area. However, this is an involved process that may be difficult for Keystone’s limited staff capacity. The data first has to be uploaded to an assessor’s dataset, and only then can a request be made to add it to Google or other services. Budgeting time and resources for this process could be an important part of making trails findable and accessible in similar projects.

Community Engagement through Survey

The CU Boulder student consultants working with the Town of Keystone put out a survey inviting residents to suggest locations that should have a sign. The survey has been a success, gathering a lot of data and improving community engagement with the project. Involving residents this way builds support and awareness for the program, and new participants may offer insights, ideas, and connections that would not have surfaced otherwise.

Working Group Interconnections

The Town of Keystone partners with several organizations, including the U.S. Forest Service, the Summit County Outdoor Coalition, and CU Boulder. These partnerships have expanded the town’s capacity and knowledge, giving its programs greater leverage and impact.

Unique Opportunities in a Newly Incorporated Town

Although Keystone has operated as a ski resort for decades, it was not incorporated as a town until February 2024. The town is in a unique position to define its character and values and build infrastructure to match. It is also developing a program to bolster affordable and workforce housing and overhauling its land use code, among other efforts. Incorporating has unlocked a variety of opportunities for collective action, and other small communities may want to consider whether official town status could unlock similar opportunities. All of these efforts will help the town grow from a positive, intentional, and emissions-reducing foundation.