Help Shape the Future of St. Lawrence County’s Multi-Use Trail System: Clarkson University Students Want Your Input!

Student Project Enhances St. Lawrence County Trail System

A team of students from Clarkson University is spending summer working on the St. Lawrence County Multi-Use Trail System. Their aim? To understand how the trail system helps local businesses and to find ways to improve it.

This trail system stretches about 130 miles and offers year-round activities like snowmobiling, hiking, and biking. Connecting places like Brasher State Forest and Parishville, the trails draw in outdoor enthusiasts from near and far.

The students’ project focuses on four main areas: gathering field data, analyzing the economic impact on local businesses, developing economic models, and conducting a survey for trail users. Using tools like ArcGIS Field Maps, the team documents trail conditions, identifies hazards, and maps out essential infrastructure such as signage and transitions between roads and trails. This information will pave the way for better safety and maintenance.

They’re also talking to local business owners. By mapping businesses near the trails, they hope to see how trail traffic impacts the local economy. According to recent data from the Outdoor Industry Association, outdoor recreation contributes over $900 billion to the U.S. economy, underscoring the potential economic benefits of well-maintained trails.

The project will produce estimates on how visitor spending affects local revenue. The findings will guide future investments in the trail, helping to strengthen its role in tourism and community development.

“We’re halfway through the mapping phase,” says Finn Halstead, the project leader and a graduate student in Business Analytics. The economic research will continue for about a year, and the team is eager to hear from the community.

Local trail users are encouraged to share their experiences through a survey, contributing valuable insights that will support the project.

This initiative is part of the Clarkson Construction Engineering Management Consulting Group (C3G), where students gain hands-on experience in planning and engineering. Through this project, students are not only helping improve local infrastructure but also enriching their education.

For more information about the trail system and its economic impact, you can visit the St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce website here.

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