The City of Knoxville today released new data on use of City greenways and trails in 2014. 

The data was collected using laser counters that tally the number of runners, bikers, walkers and strollers. The devices, positioned on strategically-placed posts along eight of Knoxville's most popular greenways, gather precise information by emitting a harmless, invisible laser beam to count people using the trails. The greenway laser counter project is a partnership effort between the City of Knoxville's Parks and Recreation Department, the Knoxville Regional Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) and the local AmeriCorps program. 

"With this data, we are able to observe trends to help the City polish infrastructure strategies - like park entrance traffic flow, lighting, surface maintenance, and trash pickup - as well as make future plans for greenway connections," said Lori Goerlich, City Parks and Greenways Coordinator. 

In 2014, Sequoyah Greenway was the most heavily used of the City's 46 greenways, with an average of 4,450 people using it each week. The laser counters documented a much heavier use of the Sequoyah Greenway than had been reflected in previous counts. 

Goerlich pointed out that the City has been adjusting laser counter positions to obtain precise information about each greenway. 

For example, Lakeshore Park has typically been the most heavily used greenway in Knoxville. But the laser counter position on that greenway was moved away from the ball fields in an effort to specifically count trail users, and the number of greenway users in the 2014 data has dropped. 

First Creek Greenway was the least visited trail in 2014, with an average of 81 people a week. Goerlich suggested that construction that closed the adjacent Glenwood Avenue was a contributing factor in the declining number of visitors. 

Other noteworthy data results: 

Third Creek Greenway's use increased from an average of 1,400 people per week to 1,546 per week.
The greenway loop in Victor Ashe Park was the second most-utilized greenway, with 2,833 people visiting each week; 2014 was the first year for data to be collected for Victor Ashe Greenway. 

The City Greenways Ranger, an AmeriCorps position, is able to gather the data from each counter by a simple download through the equivalent of a USB hookup. 

The City currently has nine laser counters to use on the trails, some of which the TPO originally purchased. Each counter costs about $500. 

Goerlich says the City has plans to purchase additional laser counters for trail use and that there are plans to extend the laser counter program to tally dog park visits. 

The greenway laser counter data is also shared with TPO, which can use the information in evaluating regional greenway connections. 

In addition to laser counters, Knoxville Parks and Recreation works with the City Traffic Engineering Division to have strips laid on the street that count vehicular visits to parks. 

Joe Walsh, Parks and Recreation Director, says all of this data makes for a better parks and greenway system. 

"The more knowledge we have about how Knoxville residents use our parks and greenways - in essence, determining their likes and dislikes - the better we are able to serve the public with quality recreation services," said Walsh.