Merging Architectural Structures with Forest Walkways: A Comprehensive Review of Treetop Walkways and the Fu Forest Trail of China

Treetop walkways are unique trail constructions. Their support structure suspends a walkway platform several meters from the ground, shuttling among the canopies of trees in the forest. Many countries have built canopy trails for forest recreation, tourism, and other uses. In certain cities, the treetop walkway is no longer a single building unit or forest trail in the narrow sense, and is planned as a multi-functional urban public landscape. This study reviews the development of treetop and elevated forest trails, introduces several representative cases, and provides a comprehensive reference point that fills previous research gaps. We also analyze the Fu Forest Trail, the most representative treetop walkway in China through, inter alia, its modular system, elevated structural, and design appearance. We explore the background and application of treetop trails that connect residents and the environment as a multifunctional urban public landscape in China, and related future research directions. We conclude that treetop walkways have many distinct advantages, and are becoming trendy in forest trail development; there is excellent potential to transform them creatively and innovatively into high-quality forest infrastructure or urban public landscape for public benefit.

Influence of Timber Harvesting Operations and Streamside Management Zone Effectiveness on Sediment Delivery to Headwater Streams in Appalachia

Disturbances created by timber harvesting equipment and associated haul roads and skid trails can create overland sediment flows (sediment paths), especially in steeply sloping terrain, leading to stream sedimentation. This study investigated the effect of variables associated with GPS tracked harvest equipment movement, skid trail development and retirement, topography, and streamside management zone (SMZ) width and tree retention on sediment delivery to streams. While the intensity of harvest equipment traffic was not correlated with sediment path development, the presence and location of skid trails were. All of the sediment paths were found to originate at water control structures, influenced by microtopographic features, on the skid trails directly adjacent to SMZs. Mesic slopes were associated with increased sediment path development across all SMZ configurations. Two factors, the accumulation of coarse logging debris in the SMZ and the increased distance of skid trails to streams, were both correlated with decreased sediment path development. The study provides insight into how these variables interact and can be used to develop site-specific guidelines for SMZs in steeply sloping terrain that could improve their efficiency and effectiveness.

Social Capital along Wine Trails: Spilling the Wine to Residents?

Social capital is a vital element of tourism development and sustainability, and has thus drawn significant attention during the past decade. Yet, this topic is still under-researched in the context of niche tourism, especially along linear tourism settings such as wine trails. As a major component of wine tourism, wine trails have been growing rapidly worldwide to further regional tourism development. To examine the level of social capital related with wine tourism, communities surrounding two wine trails in North Carolina (U.S.) were surveyed regarding the Trust, Information Sharing, Collective Action, Bonding and Bridging dimensions of social capital. Results indicated the Piedmont region has not yet fully developed the social capital associated with local wine trails, although residents perceived somewhat strong Collective Action derived from this growing tourism niche. Visitation frequency to wine trails was found to be significantly associated with all dimensions of wine tourism social capital. This study advances the wine tourism scholarship concerning social capital along wine trails (e.g., integrating main dimensions into one scale). It also sheds light on wine trail development and management, suggesting local wineries and wine trails invest greater effort in forging community bonds, especially among older residents, and bridging with local businesses.

Archaeological Survey for the Lower Greens Bayou Trail Project, Segments GR02 and GR03, in Harris County, Texas

Over several mobilizations between April 2018 and January 2020, Gray & Pape, Inc., of Houston, Texas, conducted an intensive pedestrian cultural resources survey of two segments (Segments GR02 and GR03) of proposed trail development along Lower Greens Bayou in the City of Houston, Harris County, Texas. The project alignment measures approximately 10.8 kilometers (6.7 miles) in length and encompasses approximately 9.6 hectares (23.7 acres) of area. Another 0.6 kilometers (0.4 miles) or 0.6 hectares (1.4 acres) of project alignment was removed from consideration. In total, approximately 11.4 kilometers (7.1 miles) or 10.2 hectares (25.1 acres) was surveyed for the project. Because the proposed trail development occurs on publicly owned properties a Texas Antiquities Code Permit was required prior to survey. All work was completed under Texas Antiquities Permit #8328, which was assigned by the Texas Historical Commission on February 14, 2018. Fieldwork and reporting activities were performed according to procedures set forth by the Texas Historical Commission and the Council of Texas Archeologists. The goals of the survey were to establish whether or not previously unidentified archaeological resources were located within the project area, also defined as the project’s Area of Potential Effects, and whether the proposed development would affect any previously identified cultural resources. Prior to fieldwork, site file and background research was conducted, including a review of historic aerial and topographic maps in an attempt to locate any historic structures associated with the Area of Potential Effects. Site file review and background research indicated that there are no previously recorded sites within the project Area of Potential Effects. Fieldwork took place between April 10, 2018 and January 7, 2020 and consisted of a combination of pedestrian survey and shovel testing. Systematic shovel testing was performed along a single transect over both project segments resulting in 131 shovel tests being excavated, of which 11 were positive for cultural material. The survey revealed that large portions of both project segments have been heavily disturbed by development and flood events, however, three new archaeological sites, 41HR1234, 41HR1235, and 41HR1236, and one historic Isolate were identified as a result of survey. Site 41HR1234 was identified as a mid-twentieth century historic trash midden. Site 41HR1235 was identified as a Late Prehistoric ephemeral campsite. Site 41HR1236 was identified as a multicomponent prehistoric campsite and historic isolate. Diagnostic artifacts were observed at all three sites; however, it is the recommendation of Gray & Pape, Inc. that only Sites 41HR1235 and 41HR1236 are significant in the materials they contain and their potential to offer additional research potential. Direct impacts to both sites have been avoided by the project alignment as currently planned. While indirect impacts such as looting are a concern, the distance between the sites and the current alignment as well the density of woods surrounding them minimizes the danger as a result of the project. Eligibility testing is recommended for the sites if they cannot be avoided by future projects. Based on the results of this survey, Gray & Pape, Inc. recommends that the no further cultural resources work be required for the project as currently planned and that the project be cleared to proceed. As specified under the conditions of Texas Antiquities Code Permit #8328, all project associated records are curated with the Center of Archaeological Studies at Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas.

Exchanging Locally Informed Recreational Trail Development Practices to Build a Better Trans Canada Trail

The Trans Canada Trail is the world’s largest recreational trail network, spanning 24,000 km and connecting 15,000 diverse communities across Canada from coast, to coast, to coast. The research currently being undertaken is to investigate both barriers and solutions for best planning practices pertaining to recreational trail networks and, specifically, for the TCT. Using mixed methods of both semi-structured interviews and recurring surveys, the methodology of this research project pairs together key-informants from communities of both similar and diverse characteristics and provides them with a participatory outlet for knowledge sharing to occur. Applications of this research project has the potential to create synergies between various stakeholders and interest groups, such as active transportation coalitions, economic development practitioners, and conservation authorities. In rural Ontario, where safety and accessibility to the TCT is dramatically far from being consistent, research findings may have particular salience

Up on The 606

The 606 is the world’s first multiuse elevated trail, extending for 2.7 mi (4.35 km) through diverse neighborhoods whose per capita of open space is one of the lowest in Chicago. The trail connects six ground-level parks and is managed for recreation, but it also serves as a cross-town transportation connector and was funded partially with transportation dollars. Managers sought information about trail use to maintain a safe and harmonious experience for users, to plan operations and maintenance, and to document the benefits of trail development. The use of The 606 was examined during the first 6 months of 2016, and on the basis of those results, its use for the entire year was projected. Automated traffic monitoring with active infrared counters followed procedures in the FHWA Traffic Monitoring Guide. Screenline calibration tests revealed relatively high rates of occlusion owing to user type and traffic volume, yielding an adjustment factor of 1.239. Most users were pedestrians, but proportions varied by day of the week and time of day. Average daily traffic volumes between January 1 and June 30 at counters near the east and west ends of the trail were 3,500 and 3,000, respectively, with peak daily traffic exceeding 10,000. A regression model using weekdays and weekends, location on the trail, and temperature variables explained 80% of the daily use variation. Model extrapolation with historical weather averages estimated annual traffic volumes at 1.46 million and 1.3 million for the two sites, and a combined total annual miles traveled of 3.7 million (5.95 million km). Management implications and future research directions are highlighted.

The economic impacts of constructing an ATV bypass route in the Town of Conception Bay South

<p>The development and maintenance of trails that permit the use of off-road vehicles present tremendous opportunities for tourism product development. Newfoundland and Labrador is hoping to capitalize from trail users by building a province-wide trail network using the former Canadian National Railway line. Since the section of the trail through the Town of Conception Bay South is non-motorized, the Town hopes to build an ATV Bypass Route in order to draw all-terrain vehicle (ATV) users and create a continuous trail for them. This paper presents information on the economic impact of the ATV industry and case studies from similar jurisdictions in Canada and the United States to support the argument that ATV tourism is a good investment.</p><p><strong>Keywords: </strong>economic impact, trail development, tourism, recreation, all terrain vehicles, Newfoundland</p>