| dc.description.abstract | Urban trails are paved or unpaved pathways through neighborhoods, cities, and parks that are used to increase the walkability of an area, provide alternative transportation routes, offer recreational space, and increase connectivity of a community. Artwork in public spaces can provide increased neighborhood connection, community engagement, and draw community members to locations that they might not have otherwise wanted to visit or knew about. This research study included three components. First, 312 University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) students completed an online survey on their perceptions of artwork on urban trails and how artwork may affect their trail use. Second, 27 individuals who were utilizing the Will Rogers Trail (WRT) completed a trail user survey. Third, 23 UCO students in an unexposed group walked a specific section of the WRT and completed a follow up assessment. Artwork on the trail was selected most as an urban trail amenity to increase trail use among the online survey group, trail user group, and unexposed group at 27%, 34%, and 31% respectively. The majority of participants across all three groups agree (agree or strongly agree) that they would use the trails more often if there was artwork added to them compared to those that disagree, or neither agree nor disagree at 77%, 5%, and 18% respectively. The trail user group indicated wanting to see more fountains or water elements (27.7%) added to the trails, compared to the unexposed group that want to see earthworks or environmental art (25.0%), and the online survey group that want to see murals and paintings (26.4%). The results of this study indicate that artwork can be an amenity to increase urban trail use on the WRT and that various types of artwork are desired to be added to the trails. | en_US |
