July 2014 - Parks & Recreation - 58

Operations

Above: Mile marker signs help trail users
quickly identify their location in the event
of an emergency. Right: Bicycle repair
stations along trails allow cyclists to fix
flat tires and perform other minor repairs
rather than calling emergency services.

claimed Little Miami Scenic Trail.
Schneider, now the president of
Trail Works and an expert witness on
trail-related legal issues, stresses that
the trail manager must work with
contractors to ensure that the trail
is designed for the maximum safety
and enjoyment of bicyclists, walkers
and other recreational users.
Policies and Rules
Park and recreation agencies set
policies and post rules to ensure a
safe and enjoyable experience for
bicyclists, joggers and walkers of all
ages and abilities. Posted rules related to trail etiquette and accident
prevention are common, but some
agencies are hesitant to post recommendations to protect the user from
personal assault, because it can create the perception that the trail is a

Parks & Recreation

dangerous place. Park and recreation
agencies can include trail safety tips
alongside other trail information on
signage, in brochures and online. Doing so in a neutral way equips trail users with important information without unnecessarily alarming them or
deterring them from using these facilities. Mark Westermeir, director of
Carmel-Clay Parks and Recreation
in Indiana, emphasizes that trail users should take precautions for their
safety on the trail, e.g., carrying a cell
phone with GPS location capability.
Technology
To improve emergency response
to trail incidents, many park and

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recreation agencies are installing
emergency call boxes and emergency locator systems. The Alpharetta
Parks and Recreation Department
in suburban Atlanta has placed 13
call boxes along its eight-mile Big
Creek Greenway Trail. The call
boxes connect to a dedicated center
for public safety. Alpharetta has experienced success with their emergency call boxes, but other agencies
have suffered from vandalism, such
as Indianapolis Parks and Recreation's experience that resulted
in costly repairs of the call boxes
along the Monon Greenway. Other
cities have pulled their emergency
call boxes because repeated vandalism has made them unreliable for
distressed trail users.
Sophisticated emergency locator
systems use signage markers with
unique location identifiers placed
at intervals along the trail. In Dallas, Texas, the city is expanding an
emergency locator system initially used on the Katy Trail to trails
throughout the city. Markers are
placed so that at least one is visible
at any point along the trail. The locator signs are joined to nearby addresses with caution notes so emergency personnel know where and
how to access the trail. This system
gives law enforcement and emergency medical services an accurate
location and access to the trail without delay.
Trail Patrols
Trails, like neighborhood streets,
are linear public spaces used for
transportation and recreation. A
dedicated trail patrol benefits public safety. The recreational trail system in Columbus, Ohio, is patrolled
by Franklin County Metropolitan
Park District park rangers on bicy-

July 2014 - Parks & Recreation

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of July 2014 - Parks & Recreation