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Boxley announces Oct. 2 launch for Gullah Geechee wayfinding app and website
Summary
Board member Boxley said the Gullah Geechee CDC will launch a wayfinding app and dynamic website on Thursday, Oct. 2, with signage entering final production, a contractor walkthrough planned for September, and a community launch event at 5:30 p.m.
Boxley announced that the Gullah Geechee Historical Neighborhoods Community Development Corporation will officially launch its wayfinding app and companion website on Thursday, October 2, with a community launch event scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
The announcement came during the CDC’s meeting when Boxley said the contractor (Soleos) will deliver a final presentation at the board’s September meeting and attend the October launch in person. "We are going to we have selected Thursday, October 2 as our official launch date," he said.
Why it matters: the app and website aim to provide visitors and community members with curated information about historic Gullah Geechee neighborhoods and to increase local engagement and tourism while reflecting community representation.
Boxley said signage for the wayfinding system is in final fabrication and "will be installed within the coming weeks," with a mock-up expected within a week. He told the board the design team revised fonts after collecting feedback and that sign placement is being chosen to ensure ADA accessibility and proximity to pathways so people with mobility challenges can access markers.
Board members previewed the application in a meeting with Thomas; the chair said the app "does load well" and urged other board members to test it and provide feedback before the September meeting. Boxley said he has sent links to the board but the site is not yet live and the project team is being cautious about broad public release until content and imagery fully represent the Gullah community.
To build the site’s image library, Boxley said the CDC has received some family photos and will contract a photographer to capture roughly 40 historic and neighborhood images for the inventory. He also said the CDC will create its own branded social media presence to manage and disseminate content, while coordinating outreach support with the town communications team. "We would end up, with this being a stand alone, we would end up making sure that we would be managing the content," he said.
On media outreach, Boxley said he has given interviews on WHHI to seed awareness and plans to use the station to invite the public to the launch. The board discussed engaging the resort and short-term rental communities and working with local hospitality partners so visitors can download the app while on site.
Next steps: the contractor will present the final site at the September board meeting, board members are to test the app and submit feedback before that meeting, signage mock-ups will be reviewed when available, and the CDC will finalize marketing and PR materials to announce the Oct. 2 event.
No vote or formal action was recorded on the wayfinding item at the meeting, and launch details remain contingent on the contractor's final deliverables and the board’s review.
