If you’ve ever been to a DEC park, you’ve probably seen the work of George Bailey. He’s been working at the DEC’s sign shop for almost 40 years.
Practically every sign the DEC needs is made completely by hand from start to finish in one of its two sign shops in New York, from parks and trails, to campgrounds and boat launches.
"We're here to help the public and location, and finding your destination," said Bailey, DEC sign shop supervisor. "That's all very important stuff. We don't want anybody to get lost, and we want people to find where they're going."
From 2014-2019, the sign shop in Northville made more than 68,000 wooden signs and special projects. Making them all day, every day, takes artistic talent because the details are what make the signs so unique.
“I think it attracts people to them," Bailey explained. "And if people are attracted to them, they're going to want to read them. They're going to want to see them and it's going to help them."
The ubiquitous signs take time and patience to master, with every painting decal crafted with care.
“We like to spend a little extra time on them because the area is a special one and it's a sight map," Bailey said. "It’s something that needs to be special."