WED-106 - The Pigeon Creek Passage: Tracking Trail Use and Community Connection
Wednesday, April 22, 2026
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM PST
Location: Plaza Foyer, Plaza Level
Area of Responsibility: Area I: Assessment of Needs and Capacity Keywords: Evaluation@@@Partnerships and Coalitions@@@Physical Activity, Subcompetencies: 4.3.6 Analyze data., 8.3.4 Build relationships with other professionals within and outside the profession. Research or Practice: Research
Professor and Chair University of Southern Indiana Evansville, Indiana, United States
Learning Objectives:
At the end of this session, participants will be able to:
Upon completion of the session, participants will be able to describe how community recreational spaces support physical activity, social connection, and mental well-being.
Upon completion of the session, participants will understand data collection methods used to assess community use and satisfaction with community recreational spaces.
Upon complete of the session, participants will be able to explain how commiunity partners and higher education institutions collaborate and suppport each other.
Brief Abstract Summary: The 2024 Pigeon Greenway Usage Project demonstrates an effective mixed-method approach by combining manual user counts with intercept surveys. Carried out by university students across multiple locations and time periods, the project offers insights into both the volume and behavior of trail users, as well as their feedback on the Greenway experience. This project highlights the value of academic-community partnerships in generating actionable data for urban planning and recreation management.
Detailed abstract description: The 2024 Pigeon Greenway Usage Project used a combination of two methods to obtain quantitative data about the use of trails: manuals counts and user intercept surveys. Students from a local university were placed at three intercept points along the Greenway: the Pagoda Trailhead, the Shirley James Gateway Memorial Plaza, and the Garvin Park Trailhead. The data were collected during two stages in Spring 2024 and Fall 2024: 4/22-4/24 and 5/22 during the first stage, and 10/15 and 10/17 in the second stage. The data were collected using two different methods. First, census counts were conducted during manual counting forms to record the number of trail users at 60-minute intervals. The counting forms also allowed data collectors to note the user’s activity and gender. These counts took place at various times and locations throughout the day during each stage. Second, the student data collectors elicited responses to user intercept surveys to any individual who volunteered to provide their opinions about the Greenway through the use of Qualtrics, an online survey tool. The survey consisted of 16 questions (and additional follow up questions). This mixed-method approach provides a well-rounded understanding of how the community engages with the Greenway Passage.
