Tourism

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CHAPTER 5: TOURISM Table of Contents

I. INTRODUCTION 2.314

II. METHODOLOGY 2.316

A. Signage 2.316

B. Bicycle Sharing/Loaning System 2.317

C. Pedicabs 2.318

D. Bed & Breakfast expansion 2.319

E. Dog Park 2.323

F. Agri-tourism 2.325

G. Colquitt Brands 2.325

H. Heritage Way Corridor 2.327

I. Welcome Center 2.328

J. Political Will 2.328

K. Funding 2.329

L. 100-Mile Diet 2.330

III. IMPORTANCE 2.332

A. Pedestrian Safety 2.332

B. Vacant Lots 2.333

C. Bicycle Sharing 2.334

D. Spatial Mismatch (Jobs/Housing) 2.334

E. Policy Recommendations 2.335

IV. SHORT & LONG TERM PROJECTS 2.236

A. Project Table 2.236

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I. INTRODUCTION

The technical version of the Tourism volume has been designed to accompany the standard version and help local leaders understand how and why certain proposals have been made. This version outlines the technical components which will guide future tourism actions. A handy acronym to use while considering these actions is MIT, which stands for Methodology, Importance, and Timeline. The methodology of each proposal will out-line in greater detail the way in which Colquitt will be able to transition from the status quo into a more sus-tainable situation. The importance of each proposal will explain why these changes are necessary as well as the magnitude they will affect on daily life in Colquitt. Fi-nally, the timeline of implementing these policies and actions will underscore what should be done first and the rationale for prioritizing certain actions over others.

The focus of tourism in Colquitt has been largely limited to Swamp Gravy productions and promotion of murals. While these activities have generated a steady stream of tourists, Colquitt has failed to fully capitalize on the po-tential which exists to disseminate this energy and ex-citement into other areas of tourism. With the develop-ment of other sectors in tourism, Colquitt will be better suited to retain and draw back visitors who might not otherwise have a reason to linger.

Map 24: Tourism Development Zone

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II. METHODOLOGY

A. Signage/Design Guidelines

Recognizable patterns and themes throughout Colquitt will help orientate visitors and give them a quick feel for the character of the city. Good signage and wayfinding devices will help put paths, nodes, and districts in a proper urban design context.

Existing signage in Colquitt is weak and ineffectual in its ability to grab the attention of onlookers and provide meaningful information. Three sets of guidelines will be developed: Residential, Heritage Way Corridor, and US-27. Each of these sets will have appropriate signage in regards to scale, materials, and location in order to make the city more “legible” to tourists. For example, signage along the Heritage Way Corridor will be de-signed to be read at close distance by pedestrians walk-ing 1-2mph, while signage along US-27 will be designed to be read by drivers at 35mph. Images should be used on signage as much as possible to immediately associate names with places. A color coded system could also help improve consistency and predictability for tourists unfa-miliar with the layout of the city. To keep in context with the character of Colquitt, sturdy signs made of wood and metal are favorable and in natural tones are favorable to those made of plastic and/or brightly col-ored.

Good wayfinding signs make a city’s urban de-sign more “legible” and will familiarize tour-ists with Col-quitt’s unique character

This image can be viewed as a design compromise between pedestrian and slow moving vehicles.

B. Bicycle Sharing/Loaning System

The size of the bicycle sharing/loaning pro-gram will depend on local demand. From the community visioning meetings, 78% of re-spondents expressed interest in such a pro-gram. For a city the size of Colquitt, a couple dozen bikes would seem appropriate, al-though this number may change depending on user trends. In large cities with bike shar-ing programs (such as Washington DC) bicy-cles are supplied by advertising companies, who receive exclusive advertising rights on bicycles, stations, and kiosks. For smaller programs, bicycles are donated by local com-panies.

Usually, people who are interested in borrow-ing a bike first need to fill out a membership card and present a form of identification (to prevent theft). Membership costs are gener-ally quite affordable (Chapel Hill, NC charges $10/year) and could vary on financial need. If a borrower wishes to extend the length of time for the rental, this can be done by con-tacting the shop by telephone or in person. Repairs of bicycles, when necessary, can be done by a shop employee who can either ride or drive (some places have light vans for this) to any location in the field to or repair the unit or exchange bicycles if needed.

The Tourism Development Zone map, lo-cated in the alternate volume, identifies key locations where bicycle racks should be placed due to high likelihood of demand. These locations include a downtown central station (where the rental/repair shop will be) three parks, the library, Miller County High School, and the Crooked Oak annexation.

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C. Pedicabs

A small number of three-wheeled bicycle taxis will prove valuable to assist those who cannot ride a bicy-cle themselves, or who need help toting small loads. These bicycles, known also as “pedicabs”, typically range from $1,000-$3,000 depending on the model and carrying capacity. Pedicabs are frequently em-ployed in special settings such as sporting events, concerts, etc. but could be a daily, permanent force in Colquitt as an alternative means of transportation, especially as most destinations within the city limits would be reached within a five minute ride.

For more information see:

Emory University

http://bike.emory.edu/

Bike Emory is a partnership between Bike South and Emory University in Atlanta, GA. Students and faculty can purchase heavily discounted bicycles (provided by Fuji) as an incentive to reduce automobile dependence. Conversely, for occasional trips, students can borrow bikes for up to 24 hours and return them to any station located on campus.

UNC-Chapel Hill

http://www.recyclery.info/node/6

Blue Urban Bikes is a community bike sharing program for the Chapel Hill, NC area. Members pay $10/year to borrow bicy-cles up to 24 hours. The organization also holds several com-munity events related to cycling to promote its use.

Washington DC

https://www.smartbikedc.com/program_information.asp

Large scale bicycle sharing program sponsored by Clear Chan-nel advertising agency. Has automated system for users to borrow bicycles.

Why Walk Pedicab Co.

http://store.whywalkpedicab.com/pedicabs.html

Orlando, FL based company specializing in pedicabs for over 40 years.

Pedicabs are

frequently

employed in special

settings such as

sporting events,

concerts, etc. but

could be a daily,

permanent force in

Colquitt as an

alternative means

of transportation.

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D. Bed & Breakfast Expansion

Creating pleasant lodgings for tourists to stay will be an important part of the tourism strategy. Finding activities which complement each other will help retain visitors for more than one day. Bed and Breakfast hotels keep with the character and scale of Col-quitt. These lodgings should seek to implement green technology wherever possible. Several sustainable resources exist which outline how and why green construction is beneficial to both property owners and patrons alike. The United States Green Build-ing Council has guidelines set for construction, renovation, and maintenance of build-ings. Its standards are embodied by LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). Another organization with great information on sustainable building design is Rainforest Alliance, which also provides sustainable agriculture guidelines. The follow-ing tables provide some general information on how the design of a building can affect energy costs and resource consumption.

Source: Rainforest Alliance

Source: Rainforest Alliance

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Average contents of a wastebasket in a hotel room

This structure has incorporated green roof technology, limiting stormwater runoff.

This permeable parking lot has been designed as an alternative to asphalt and will let rainfall seep into the ground much easier.

Native landscaping requires less care and watering and reduces en-ergy costs.

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The United States Department of Agriculture has many examples of green construc-tion, which can be accessed at the following website: • http://www.ia.nrcs.usda.gov/features/urbanphotos.html Rainforest Alliance • http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/tourism/documents/

tourism_practices_guide.pdf

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E. Dog Park

The absence of a clean, safe location for dog lovers to recreate with their pets has been observed frequently by members of the studio group. Dog parks offer an enjoyable ac-tivity for all ages which can be enjoyed at any time of the year. Parks such as these pro-mote active lifestyles and keep dogs from roaming the streets or in harm’s way. Sizes of dog parks vary, but a good rule of thumb for an adequate park is 2 acres. Therefore, locating a parcel(s) of this size will require some careful planning. The following map shows four sites which are at least 2 acres in size, vacant, and within 1 mile of the town square. Site 1 is near Spring Creek Park and could be worked in with other recreational activities there. Sites 2 and 3 are near the Community Center on Milford St. and are closer to the size needed for such a park. Site 4 is another option, with close access to the baseball/football fields along S. 1st St. These four sites are only suggestions, based on average sized dog parks in similar cities throughout Georgia. Colquitt may need to adjust the size and design of its dog park based on its users’ needs. More detailed de-sign suggestions can be found in the Urban Realm volume. Ultimately, the citizens of Colquitt will have to decide which of these locations (if any) works best for them.

A GIS map showing dog park locations > 2 acres in size. Further GIS analysis can pinpoint the best location of a dog park (or any other civic amenity) based on a list of attributes created by the community

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Map 25: Possible Dog Park Sites

F. Agri-tourism

Agri-tourism is another way Colquitt can draw in tourists. These enterprises offer such experiences as farm tours, wine and produce tasting, “u-pick” fields, educa-tional tours, and fishing/hunting trips.

The Center for Agribusiness and Eco-nomic Development (CAED) helps com-munities in Georgia with marketing ser-vices, provides agricultural and demo-graphic data, and conducts analyses of policies based on Georgia agriculture.

http://www.caed.uga.edu/agnet/

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G. Colquitt Brand Products

Colquitt should work to develop products made from locally owned and operated businesses. Sustainable prod-uct fairs should showcase the latest goods available in the market. Stressing quality over quantity and giving unri-valed personal attention to customers that “big box” retailers cannot match will also distinguish Colquitt products from the rest. A new line of products made locally from Colquitt resources could include such items as “Colquitt brand jeans” (made from cotton in the area) or “Colquitt jelly” (possibly Mayhaw) and will help keep dollars in the local economy. Tour-

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ists will flock to get these products as the City will represent the newest, most inno-vative brand on the market with a reputa-tion for quality and good sustainability practices. Getting customers to feel that they are part of something more than just a business transaction will also be important. Quite often, sustainable products have larger causes and histories behind them that help attract customers wishing to support and preserve culture. People will realize that their dollars are going much further when they shop locally as they come to know their shop owners by name and reputation rather than as anonymous, amorphous en-tities.

Quite often, sustainable

products have larger

causes and histories behind

them that help attract

customers wishing to

support and preserve

culture.

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H. Heritage Way Corridor Colquitt’s Main St., dubbed “Heritage Way”, has been identified as an impor-tant corridor due to its central location, many important landmarks (such as Spring Creek Park, murals, county court-house, Cotton Hall, and the public li-brary), and potential for redevelopment. Comments and discussions from the vi-sioning meetings and surveys also indi-cated that this area was in need of more attention and was a priority for redevel-opment. This corridor will link recrea-tional, cultural, commercial, educational, and governmental activities in an attrac-tive setting. Parcels which front the road will require special attention to their fa-cades, setbacks, pedestrian realms, sign-age, and allowable uses, in order to im-prove the quality of tourists’ visits. Heri-tage way links the cherished aspects of Colquitt’s past with the leading sustain-able practices of the future.

Pedestrian Signage along Heritage Way

Pedestrian Signage along Heritage Way

More vivacious and interesting pedestrian realm

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I. Welcome Center

In addition to providing a staring point for visits in the city and distributing informa-tion on tourist activities, Colquitt’s welcome center should showcase the wonders of sustainable living and draw those tourists wishing to learn how the city’s use of urban planning and design techniques have improved the quality of life for its citizens. This welcome center will be a shining example of what can be accomplished by sustainable design and will be a focal point of the town square.

An example of a building incorporating several sus-tainable elements: alterna-tive energy sources, green roofs, and a creative park-ing design which respects pedestrians.

I. Political Will

Colquitt’s municipal government must work with its citizens to make clear the impor-tance of sustainability in its future. Educational campaigns should inform why the pro-posals have been made and the importance of each. It is perfectly foreseeable that re-sistance may occur as some of these changes begin to be implemented, but a resolute and determined force must assuage these fears by illustrating that they are there in or-der to improve the overall quality of life, not to unnecessarily meddle with people’s lives. Many of the proposals made have come directly from visioning meetings and others after careful field analyses by members of the studio group. Armed with this data, local politicians can give firm, rational reasoning for the steps they take. Teaming up with special committees, such as the Healthy Colquitt Council, will help delegate some of the responsibility for implementation.

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J. Funding

An idea will only go as far as the dollars which back it up. Colquitt can tap into several funding sources designed to help rural communities develop and more importantly, develop in sustainable ways. Two major sources of funding

Federal grants:

http://www.grants.gov/

National Endowment for the Arts:

http://www.nea.gov/grants/index.html

Several federal grants are available in the form of the 2009 Recovery Act. Below are a few programs that Colquitt could implement in areas such as historical preservation, promotion of the arts, and rural business development.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) Strategies and Tools for Ar-chives and Historical Publishing Projects:

http://www.archives.gov/nhprc/announcement/strategies.html

National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Access to Artistic Excellence:

http://nthpgrants.blogspot.com/2009/02/nea-access-to-artistic-excellence.html

US Dept. of Agriculture Rural Development's Business and Industry (B&I) Guaranteed Loan Program:

http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/arra/recovery-program.htm

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K. 100-mile diet

With the advent of community gardens, farmers markets, and the growth of local farms, Colquitt will be well positioned to offer visitors a taste of homegrown food. Res-taurants and shops can register as a “Certified 100-Mile Diet Business” and be listed on the city’s website or a brochure made for that purpose.

A list of reasons to commence the 100 mile diet can be found at the following website, which has other resources for communities seeking to adopt such an initiative:

http://100milediet.org/why-eat-local

Wide range of goods

Marketing 100-mile diet as a sustainable tourism strategy

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Map 26: 100– Mile Diet

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III. IMPORTANCE

The importance of these actions stems from the process of defining the urban planning problems which exist in Colquitt and to what extent these proposals can bring about solutions. Some of the problems most frequently mentioned at the visioning meetings were as followed: • Pedestrian safety is a big concern, with sidewalks and street lighting in dire need. • More than 3/4 of survey respondents claimed to live next to a vacant lot. Creative uses for these lots and ur-ban infill will be a pressing need. • While much of Colquitt is walkable, most people drive to reach destinations. However, 83% of respondents ex-pressed interest in a bike-sharing program. • Nearly half of employed Colquitt residents work out-side of the city limits. Spatial mismatch of housing/jobs needs to be addressed more vigorously. A. Pedestrian Safety Safe pedestrian realms will be necessary if Colquitt’s tourism industry is to thrive. Currently, sidewalk widths and street connectivity are not adequate to ensure that pedestrians are safe and comfortable using the streets. Colquitt must enhance the use of sidewalks and dedi-cated bicycle lanes so that tourists have a reason to ex-plore the city, rather than getting back into their vehicles and leaving. While the tapestry of Heritage Way will be the most intricate of street designs, ultimately, all of Col-quitt will see improvements for pedestrians. Streets are the most important and widely used public spaces; therefore, how they are designed reflects the values and character of a place. Having spacious, interesting, and exciting streets signals to tourists, “We want you to come...and stay!”. Raised, wide sidewalks made of qual-ity materials such as brick indicate that pedestrians are

B. Vacant Lots

Vacant lots and abandoned buildings are inimical to passer-bys and can seriously disrupt the enjoyment of strolling through and discovering the city. Find-ing creative uses for these areas which will enhance the walking experience for visitors is key. Several proposals have been made for the reclamation of these lots, such as community gardens, dog parks, skateboard parks, and swimming pools. These strategies are discussed more in depth in the Infill Development volume.

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valued. The Public Realm volume offers specific streetscape designs with appropriate dimensions and scales, to give a feel for how streets will be transformed. It must be stressed that such features as benches, wayfinding signs and street lighting will all be necessary if the pedestrian realm is to flourish. As more people use the streets, the livelier they will become, and more able to attract and retain visitors.

C. Bike Sharing Program

Clean, affordable transportation can lib-erate residents and visitors who would otherwise be unable to leave their homes or have limited mobility. For as little as $10/year an individual can have a reli-able, safe means of getting around town. Tourists could rent bikes on a daily basis. The bike sharing/loaning program is a relatively low-cost public transportation solution and can be more easily adapted to demand has very low capital and op-erational costs. Thinking differently about transportation will raise the eye-brows of tourists and will give them an impression of the direction the city is heading (i.e. toward a sustainable fu-ture).

D. Spatial Mismatch of jobs/housing

Tourism can help create jobs. Many sup-porting services relate to tourism such as hospitality, retail, restaurants, and enter-tainment. With nearly 50% of residents working outside of the city limits, little economic activity is taking place in city itself. Additionally, those who work are forced to travel long distances to other urban centers such as Bainbridge, Al-bany, and farther, with some respon-dents at the visioning meetings quoting up to 75 minute travel times to their work site.

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Already reality in small towns and college campuses throughout the nation, bike sharing programs offer a green, low-cost solution to public transportation.

Spatial mismatch of jobs/housing causes long commutes and diverts funds from the municipality.

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E. Policy Recommendations The Miller County Agenda, which serves as a de facto Comprehensive Plan, has several existing polices from which a tourism-sustainability nexus can be developed. However, many of these policies have not been carried out or are self-limiting in their scope. The pooling of tourism resources and matching of complementary activities will help link these industries. The following gives a few examples of polices which could attack sus-tainability in Colquitt with more vigor and precision. Existing Policy (pg 38): Develop fundraising activities that are linked to Swamp Gravy schedule to capitalize on presence of tourists this could include Swamp Gravy Merchandise, such as T-shirts, key rings, knick-knacks, glasses, Coozies etc. Each should bear the slogan of the current year’s production. Naturally this will have to be negotiated with Miller County Arts Council. Negotiations should be complete by the end of 2008. Proposed Policy Create wide-ranging, complementary tourist activities which can be enjoyed year-round and are capable of increasing local, long-term employment. Existing Policy (pg 45): Synergize and strategically deploy heritage connections between Swamp Gravy,

Murals, Tourist Activities and potential Soundstage Spin offs in the retail and service industry sectors. Proposed Policy Complement the success of Swamp Gravy and other arts with industries that are mutu-ally beneficial, yet independent of them and will attract different groups of tourists. Existing Policy (pg 45): Develop/encourage agri-tourism and eco-tourism activities. Proposed Policy Encourage agri-tourism businesses to exhibit sustainable practices (such as participat-ing in 100-mile diet, farmers markets, etc) and link activities to greater passive/active recreational opportunities.

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IV. SHORT AND LONG TERM PROJECTS

See following table for short and long term elements of projects.

Shor

t an

d L

ong

Ter

m G

oals

for

Ele

men

ts o

f Tou

rism

Pla

n

Ele

men

tSh

ort-

Ter

m (

1-5

year

s)L

ong-

Ter

m (

5-30

yea

rs)

100

Mil

e D

iet

* E

stab

lish

rel

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wit

h lo

cal/

regi

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far

mer

s*

Loc

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site

s fo

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mm

un

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* C

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e vo

lun

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am t

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den

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tau

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par

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* F

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p G

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bicy

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ter

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E I

I