We were thrilled to connect with so many passionate park and recreation professionals at the recent Indiana Park and Recreation Association (IPRA) Trails Gathering! On behalf of the entire team, we want to extend our sincere appreciation to IPRA and all attendees for giving Eppley Center staff the opportunity to present and lead a conversation on the future of our state’s trail systems.
During our presentation, Eppley staff shared preliminary plans for a potential 2027 Statewide Trail Study. This proposed initiative serves as a vital update to the landmark 2017 Indiana Trail Study, offering a timely look at 10-year Indiana trail trends. Over the past decade, Indiana’s trail infrastructure has expanded significantly, and community engagement with outdoor spaces has evolved. The 2027 study will reflect this growth by expanding research to include newly developed trails across the state, ensuring a complete and accurate picture of Indiana's modern trail network.
A key topic of our session was demonstrating the practical value of impact data. Trails provide immeasurable health, economic, and social benefits, but securing grant funding to maintain and expand them requires hard evidence. By gathering updated data on trail usage, community economic impact, and user demographics, the 2027 initiative will equip local agencies with the compelling statistics necessary to strengthen grant applications and justify future investments.
Collaboration among local, regional, and state partners will be the cornerstone of this effort. Successful statewide research relies on park departments working together—whether by coordinating data collection, placing trail counters, or sharing local insights. During the gathering, we highlighted several actionable ways departments can partner with us to ensure their specific trails and communities are represented.
As we lay the groundwork for this essential 2027 initiative, we want to hear from you. Whether you managed a trail featured in the 2017 study, oversee a newly built trail system, or want to learn how impact data can help your agency secure funding, we invite you to be part of the effort.
If your department or organization is interested in supporting or participating in the 2027 Statewide Trail Study please reach out to our team, Kristy Anderson, anderskr@iu.edu, or Clay Chafin, cgchafin@iu.edu or access the information here:
