The Blue Mountains is a warm, friendly, tidy town but needs better signage and more mid-range retail shops.
That is the finding of the new First Impressions program.
A number of residents of Gravenhurst spent a day incognito in The Blue Mountains last September — and presented their first impressions to the town Wednesday.
The team looked at a wide range of community features including signage, infrastructure, business and industry, friendliness and transportation.
The Gravenhurst team included a couple of business owners, a health services person, a business consultant and student.
Members of Gravenhurst’s Accessibility Committee toured The Blue Mountains later to look at how the town is perceived by people with physical disabilities.
Among the positive impressions were the cleanliness of the community, the welcoming attitude of business people and town staff, and the feeling of community pride.
The group was especially impressed by the floral displays on the bridges into Thornbury and Clarksburg and the streetscape in Thornbury.
Their recommendations included improved signage to help visitors find their way around to other communities as well as the Thornbury waterfront and downtown.
Another recommendation is to use the town’s appeal to the senses.
Gravenhurst Economic Development Director Lance Sherk says visitors noticed, for example, lots of pleasing smells like the apple orchards, the waterfront, the bakery — items he feels the Blue Mountains can promote.
Blue Mountains Economic Development Co-ordinator Lisa Kidd says they will incorporate the report into plans being developed by the town and local organizations.
The Gravenhurst team’s final report is available online at www.thebluemountains.ca
A team from The Blue Mountains visited Gravenhurst last fall and presented their findings to the Muskoka community last night.