Has the beauty and diversity of our striking natural environment ever inspired you to know more?  The main purpose of our sign projects is to provide artistic and eye-catching signage that would also serve to inspire good stewardship through learning basic information about the ecosystems that surround us all. 

Harbor WildWatch has completed a total of 10 permanent outdoor signs that provide environmental information in the Gig Harbor area. We invite you to look at each sign on the following pages, absorb the information, learn more, share it with others, and perhaps visit the signs when you are walking the Harbor area. Topics range from local bird species, the geology of the Puget Sound and local forest birds and animals to “Protect Our Home”—a sign that shows the wonders of the intertidal and how we, as visitors, impact the creatures that live there.

Newest Additions:
Our most recent installations of signs  (November, 2007) speak to the wonders of the ecosystems around us and celebrate the many animal and bird species that share our local waters and forests.

“The Biggest Sound Around" explains the complex geology that created the Puget Sound and its unique ecosystem.It was installed in Fall, 2007 and can be seen at the Old Ferry Landing in Gig Harbor at the mouth of Gig Harbor Bay.  It’s inspiration was the amazing geologic forces that created The Puget Sound.”

“Life on a Limb” explores the wonders of forest life in our midst. can be viewed on the walk inside the small park next to City Hall on Grand Ave.  It was installed in November 2007.

“Harboring Birds is Our Gig” illustrates the amazing number of birds that commonly visit our local waters or are year-round residents.This interpretive sign was installed in November, 2007 and can be visited at the Finholm Marketplace viewing platform on North Harborview Drive near Anthony’s restaurant.

The “Protect Our Home” interpretive sign is almost completed and has been fully funded.  We expect installation by late spring of 2008 in time for the summer crowds that will visit our local beaches.   It will be found at Kopachuk State Park and Penrose State Park and was developed in partnership with Washington State Parks and the KGI Watershed Council.

"Peek into the Creek" interpretive sign can be viewed at City Park at the head (north end) of Gig Harbor Bay. When it is installed in spring, 2008, it will be located at the site of a major restoration effort spearheaded by Friends of Pierce County in 2007. We congratulate them on their accomplishment and are proud to have partnered with them and the city of Gig Harbor on producing this sign.

 “Streams of Change” interpretive sign can be viewed in spring 2008 at City Park at the north end of Gig Harbor Bay.  It will located close to the shoreline where the restoration was completed.

“Gig Harbor’s Wildwaters”  interpretive sign was installed in 2005 and is located on the water at Skansie Brothers Park in downtown Gig Harbor. 

“The Wetlands Around Us” (2005) can be viewed at the Wilkinson Farm Park on Rosedale Ave.  The sign is posted to the left by a real wetland area!  Have fun visiting the park, and please share what you learn with others. 

“Habitats of the Harbor”  (2005) is one of the original four signs produced by Harbor WildWatch in partnership with the city of Gig Harbor and is located on the public walkway near the new location of the historical museum.

“The Local Watershed”  (2005) can be viewed at Donkey Creek Park on the corner of Harborview Dr. and North Harborview Dr. Learn more about “Sound Responsibility” for our local watershed by clicking on this sign.  We encourage you to engage in your own research, join a local watershed council (ours is called the KGI Watershed Council), and take the steps outlined on this sign to help keep our waters healthy.