KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — A study by the University of Tennessee Center for Energy, Transportation and Environmental Policy estimated that the Knoxville Urban Wilderness has an annual impact of around $24.9 million impact.
Eugene Fitzhugh, an associate professor, worked with Douglas Gregory, a doctor student, to collect data from trail counters and to survey 1,166 visitors. Using that information, they estimated that 303,782 people visited the Urban Wilderness in 2021. Alexia Evans, a postdoctoral research fellow, used that information to estimate the trail system generated around $24.9 million for Knox County.
The team also worked to determine how much people would be willing to pay for Urban Wilderness activities if they were not free.
"Using the onsite survey and revealed preference methods, the study found that the KUW trail system provided an additional $7 million annually in recreational benefits —approximately $23 per individual trip — an amount that was not included in direct and indirect spending," said a news release about the study.