In September of 2024, PGSF applied for the State of Washington Tourism’s Tourism Regeneration Grant, a grant aiming to “foster safer, more inclusive, and sustainable visitor experiences across the state and drive overnight visitation to rural and underserved communities.” State of Washington Tourism (SWT) is Washington State’s nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering a healthy and sustainable tourism industry throughout the state. The Tourism Regeneration Grant was created via federally appropriated dollars and Washington’s Department of Commerce functions as the pass-through entity, with SWT being the subrecipient and grantor of this funding opportunity. In late October of 2024, PGSF received notification that our grant application, outlining a project to design, fabricate, and install wayfinding and educational signage throughout the garden and revamp our brochure, was awarded in full at $48,615.
Heronswood Garden, though only 15 acres (with 6.7 being cultivated gardens), was in need of wayfinding signs and other supports to increase the safety and quality of our visitor experience. Throughout 2025, a small PGSF/Heronswood team worked with two sign design/fabricator companies, Sea Reach LTD out of Sheridan OR and SJ Graphics from right here in Poulsbo WA. Sea Reach was responsible for assisting us with the design, fabrication and installation of a new three-sided kiosk for the parking lot and five wayfinding trail posts that indicate where important locations and amenities can be found. The kiosk features an updated garden map, garden etiquette and welcoming, and a magnetic side for announcements. Both the new map and the wayfinding signs use colors to denote each garden, also matching the garden entry signs for improved navigation. Slight changes were made to our garden colors to ensure that folks who are color blind can tell the difference between the tones assigned to represent each garden, furthering PGSF and Heronswood’s longterm initiative to increase ADA compliance and create ease for all visitors while self-touring the property.
The wayfinding signs all feature both English and Klallam language, helping to situate every visitor in a deeper understanding of the tribal land and culture that they are visiting and to help tribal members feel more at home in their tribe’s garden. Dialing in accurate Klallam translations is no small feat, but with the help of Heronswood’s Tribal Liaison, Debby Purser, who reached out to a group of Klallam experts, and with a dedicated editor, we are confident that we have meaningfully conveyed the intended messages in the impressive and enduring Klallam language.
After two days of installation in late October, with help from the excellent Sea Reach team, the kiosk and the wayfinding trail posts are up! And wow, they are stunning! It’s exciting to see these important additions get situated in their new role and places along the garden paths. Over the coming few weeks, we will begin to see SJ Graphics’ portion of the grant project deliverables installed – 20 garden highlight signs (like those seen in our Renaissance Garden), two garden entry signs for the older gardens that don’t have them yet (Woodland and Formal), and four exhibit style signs for the exterior of the Visitor Center and plant sale area. The current S’Klallam history signs that have been up and facing the plant sale tables became outdated and show signs of age. With Debby’s help, those signs have had a lovely update that will proudly share S’Klallam tribal history with a Heronswood motif. The remaining two exhibit style signs are a Heronswood history sign including a pictoral timeline and a sign to thank our incredible volunteers for all that they do (and encourage others to volunteer with us too!). Heronswood would simply not exist as it does without the help of dozens of dedicated and passionate volunteers. We want them to take our gratitude to heart.
Lastly, the Heronswood Garden brochure was beautifully updated to be a better marketing tool for the garden as well as helping to increase the ease of self-touring the garden property for all visitors. Feedback since releasing the new brochure in the summer has been resoundingly positive. From visitors to volunteers, we’ve been told that the new brochure better represents what Heronswood offers and really helps folks get around better and safely enjoy their time strolling the grounds.
The grant project will be wrapping up with the final installations set to be finished by the end of November and the grant report submitted by the end of December. Special shout outs are due to the team that made this project possible: State of Washington Tourism for the critical funding; Dr. Ross Bayton for his copy and always constructive input; Debby Purser for assistance with obtaining accurate Klallam translations; Tom Twigg, our contract graphic designer, for his design work and collaboration with Sea Reach LTD to ensure the Heronswood aesthetic was cohesively implemented; Sea Reach LTD for their exceptional customer service, expertise, and support from beginning to end; SJ Graphics for taking on the bulk of the signage production for this project; the volunteers, especially Greg DeVault, and Heronswood Facilities team for rocking the install phase; our Accountant, Sue Mitchell, for her timely payments to contractors; and to everyone else who helped make this project a reality.
We look forward to concluding this project and seeing the results. It is our hope that our brochure helps to increase visitorship and that all of the products from this grant funded project enhance the overall experience of Heronswood, making all feel welcome, safe, and supported.
-Erin Lanum, Development Associate at Port Gamble S’Klallam Foundation and the grant writer, grant administrator, project manager, editor, and co-creator of this project and its products
October 2025
An image of the installation crew about to raise a wayfinder at the Traveler’s Garden bridge. Sea Reach LTD, Heronswood Volunteers, Heronswood Facilities team, and PGSF made a great team!