City shatters trail-use record
News Coverage:
July 8, 2016
City shatters trail-use record
Over 70,000 people used system in June; beat mark by 18,000
Journal Gazette
More than 70,000 walkers, joggers and cyclists used Fort Wayne trails last month, breaking the previous high by nearly 18,000, the city announced Thursday.
The trail count for June was 73,226; the previous high was 55,432, set in June 2012, a news release said.
“No doubt, the great weather we had last month contributed to the increased usage, but it’s clear the popularity of our trails and resident attachment continues to grow,” said Dawn Ritchie, Director of Greenways and Trails for Fort Wayne.
Record rainfall kept people away last June when 27,523 users were counted, the fewest since counting began in 2010, the release said.
Infrared counters are used to track trail users in 14 locations on the city’s 70 miles of trails. The Fort Wayne Trail Network adds another 20 miles outside of the city – creating a network of 90 miles in Allen County.
The city is working with Fort Wayne Trails Inc. and Allen, DeKalb, Steuben and Wells counties to build the State Visionary Trail, which will connect Pokagon State Park in Angola to Ouabache State Park in Bluffton.
Currently, about 22 miles of the 80-mile trail, which will come through Fort Wayne, have been completed.
