UAF Skarland Trail System Management Plan

UAF Trails 1999 User Survey Results

March 2, 2000

A web survey on trail use at UAF was conducted during two seperate periods in 1999. The survey was open for 3 weeks in May and June during which 54 surveys were submitted. The survey was closed at that point to wait until students and faculty returned in the fall. In October, 1999 the survey was reopened and advertised extensively through flyers and an announcement in the Outdoor section of the Daily News Miner. Three $10 gift certificates to Beaver Sports were offered as prizes for submitting a survey. During the period of one week, 183 surveys were added to the original despite the fact that unexpected remodeling activities resulted in the server being down for most of four of the seven days.

To advertise the survey, flyers with tear-off tabs bearing the web address were placed in every building on campus, at each of the three main trail heads, at Safeway and Fred Meyers, the animal feed stores (where horse and dog owners might see them), the snowmachine outlets, the Fairbanks Visitor Center, Birch Hill Recreation Area, the Alaska Public Lands Information Center, and at Creamer's Field. The gift certificate winners were Michael Whalen, Carl Hemming, and a person who hasn't picked their certificate up yet (I drew again and let the new winner know by email I'll announce their name as soon as I hear from them). Many thanks to Beaver Sports for providing them!

This data will be used in putting together a draft Trails Plan that will be presented to the UAF Master Planning Committee on March 16. I have summarized the results as quickly as I could, so if you see a mistake etc, please let me know and I will fix it. I'm doing my best and this is a one-woman show, so don't be too fussy!! ;-)

Susan Todd
Chair, UAF Trails Committee

Survey Results

Executive Summary

Affiliation and Extent of Use by Families

An estimate of "user days"

Users Enjoy Many Different Activities

Classic Skiing is the Primary Activity

A resounding "No!" to "No New Trails"

Commuter Trail Top New Trail Priority

Signs, Kiosks, and Boardwalks Top Facility Priorities

No to Trash Receptacles

Prohibited Winter Uses

Prohibited Summer Uses

Open-ended Comments

(aka "colorful reading") These are very interesting! The respondents had a lot to say!!

Comments on New Trails

Comments on Facilities and Amenities

Comments on Allowed or Prohibited Uses

Comments on the Trails in General

Use of the Trails for Research Purposes

Use for Educational Tours, Field Trip, etc

Comments on the Survey Itself

Comments ordered by Specific Topic

University of Alaska Fairbanks
Tanana Valley Campus
PO Box 8040-UAF

Phone: +1 907 474 7920
Fax:    +1 907 474 6725
fndlm5@uaf.edu