A survey of Paint Creek Trail users completed by Michigan State University last fall saved the trailways commission $10,000, and provided them with direction for future master plans.
Paint Creek Trailways coordinator Kristen Myers recently presented the results of the survey to the commission, and said they were very excited to receive the information.
‘It’s information we’ve wanted for years,? she said. ‘We had it in our master plan.?
From May through September of last year, researchers found that 66,420 people had used the 11-mile Paint Creek Trail. Of those people, 86 percent were over the age of 18, and 14 percent were aged 0-17 years.
Further, the survey found that 53 percent were male and 47 percent female. Fifty-six percent used the trail for bicycling and 44 percent for running or walking.
Three percent of trail users were disabled.
‘I was glad to see there were enough (disabled people) using the trail that they could come up with a number for it,? said Myers. ‘We’ve tried to make the trail accessible to everyone.?
The survey also found that 90 percent of users were Oakland County residents.
‘That tells me we need to do more marketing,? Myers said. ‘We need to draw people from other areas. We have a video (about the trail) we are going to distribute, and little things like that to get the word out.?
The survey found that 55 percent of the people using the trail did not drive there, and 48 percent had traveled more than two miles to get there.
Thirty-seven percent of those surveyed said their primary reason for using the trail was recreation, while 48 percent said exercise, 11 percent said race training and only four percent said transportation.
‘I thought that number would be higher,? Myers said of transportation. ‘People have told me they like to use (the trail) to get from Rochester to come to Lake Orion for breakfast…We see a lot of kids in fast food uniforms, going to work.
‘With gas prices what they are, I expect that number will get higher.?
The survey found that most of the people questioned used the trail about 11 times a year, and also broke down the number of users per segments of the trail.
For Lake Orion to Kern/Clarkston, 24,386 people used the trail; for Kern/Clarkston to Gallagher, 24,774 ; for Gallagher to Tienken, 43,996; and from Tienken to Rochester Road bridge, 39,744.
Asking how users learned of the trail, surveyors found 11 percent saw the trail once in the area, 47 percent lived in the area and knew about it, and 27 percent found out from friends and relatives.
One percent found out about the trail from local or state maps, five percent from media, six percent from other, one percent from a trail event, and three percent from trail signs.
Myers said new signage will be coming in 2006, and the trailways office will also be moving next year into the former Paint Creek Cider Mill building at Gallagher.
‘It will give people a place to stop,? she said, adding that there would also be restrooms available and possibly concessions.
‘There’s also a drinking fountain going in at Gallagher, and we are adding a restroom in Orion,? Myers said.
Thirty-four percent of people surveyed had a suggestion for how the trail should be extended, with 15 percent supporting extending in any direction just to provide more trail, and 13 percent supported an extension to the Polly Ann Trail.
Eleven percent supported extending the trail in a general northerly direction, nine percent southerly direction, eight percent to the Macomb-Orchard Trail, eight percent to the Clinton River Trail, and five percent into Lake Orion.
‘If we do any extension, it will be north,? Myers said. ‘We are working with the Polly Ann Trail, and Orion and Oxford…We’re hoping to extend the trail or at least a walkway to the Polly Ann through Lake Orion or Oxford.?
The commission is also looking to connect the trail with Bald Mountain in more locations.
‘We’re hoping to do a looping system with the Polly Ann Trail and Bald Mountain,? said Myers.
Ultimately, Myers said the survey information will be used to get more grants for the trail.
‘We have some statistics now that back up our needs,? she said. ‘The numbers will help tell our story.?