Committee accepts donation of three digital wayfinding kiosks for regional recreation campaign

A volunteer-led regional recreation group asked the Business and Economic Development Committee on April 7 to accept a donation of three interactive digital wayfinding kiosks to promote outdoor recreation, cultural tourism and regional events. Lisa Sturgeon, steering committee chair of the Greater Bangor recreation economy effort (GBRERC), told the committee the kiosks will be paired with a market-research and brand-development campaign funded in part through state tourism and ARPA awards.

GBRERC has worked on four pillars for the region’s recreation economy: promoting outdoor recreation and cultural tourism, improving trail and waterway connectivity, improving river access, and building collaborative partnerships across 21 Greater Bangor communities. "We applied and were awarded a subaward through the Office of Outdoor Recreation for a wayfinding project," Sturgeon said, and the group also received about $195,000 through ARPA for regional market research and branding.

Sturgeon described the kiosks as interactive units that will offer both passive promotion and active search features — for example, users could find trails, events or cultural sites. Under the subaward the plan is to place one kiosk in Bangor, one in Brewer and one in Old Town to foster cross-promotion between neighboring communities. Sturgeon said the group has identified likely downtown locations (near the waterfront starting point by the Sea Dog, a spot near the Ningu Pickering Square Park project) and at the airport (near baggage claim).

Council members moved and seconded to accept the donation request; the committee chair announced there were no objections and the request will move forward. The committee packet notes the wayfinding audit deliverable and a kit-of-parts for signage, and Sturgeon said leftover subaward funds can be used to supplement signage work through the grant cycle that ends in August.

The kiosks are tied to a broader marketing timeline: a regional survey launched in April, completion of market research in May, filming in June and a summer marketing campaign. GBRERC said the kiosks are intended to serve residents, students and visitors who may not know about nearby recreation assets.

The committee’s approval was recorded during the meeting without a roll-call vote; committee members raised no objections at the time.

Looking ahead, GBRERC plans brand rollout and a regional tourism website later in the year.