The purpose of the Indiana Trails Study was to complete a reconnaissance level study of the use levels, user characteristics, management practices, economic factors, and impacts to adjacent properties for the selected trails.
To assist in completing the study an ad-hoc advisory group, known as the Indiana Trails Study Group, was formed to advise researchers in site selection, preferred information to be obtained, research methods and project completion. This group helped to clarify and specify the purpose of the Indiana Trails Study.
Indiana Trails Study Background
The development of multi-purpose trails has become an increasingly popular initiative in communities across the country. Many successful trail development projects can be identified throughout the country, and trends in these communities show trail activities are a growing and preferred recreation activity among the populace. Federal, state and local government have made significant commitments to planning, and developing trails in the form of staff and funding. Indiana is among the states that have recently committed federal and state funds to developing trails in local communities. As a result, Indiana officials have become more interested in gathering data on trail use, trends in trail operations, and general attitudes of trail users and trail neighbors.
The Indiana Trails Study was developed to address the growing need for more information on trail use and the general attitudes of trail users and trail neighbors. Originally proposed as a summer-long research study of one trail, the study quickly became an overview, or reconnaissance level study, of six (6) different trails in Indiana. Funded by the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) with additional funding by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), and the National Park Service (NPS) River, Trail, and Conservations Assistance Program, the Indiana Trails Study conducted research on trail use levels, trail management, economic impacts, property values, and attitudes toward trails in six (6) different types of communities in Indiana. The six (6) communities and trails were:
- Fort Wayne, Rivergreenway Trail
- Goshen, Maple City Greenway Trail
- Greenfield, Pennsy Rail Trail
- Indianapolis, Monon Rail Trail
- Muncie, Cardinal Greenway Trail
- Portage, Prairie Duneland Trail
In order to read the above Final Trail Reports, you will need to download Adobe Acrobat Reader for free. Simply follow the link below to download your copy (you must have an active Internet connection in order to download Acrobat Reader).
