By 2050, it is expected that 68% of the world’s population will live in urban areas.³ As we become more urbanized, the benefits that urban forests provide are becoming more important. They provide economic benefits to the local economy through tourism and recreation as well as supporting physical and mental health and improve urban air and water quality.⁴ Quantifying these benefits is challenging but necessary to determine the impact of public and private activities that may enhance or diminish this asset. It is also important for local residents to recognize these benefits to instill pride in the local community.
The Knoxville Urban Wilderness (KUW), located in the heart of the city of Knoxville, Tennessee is one such urban forest. In the US, it is unique in its size, proximity to a city, and the extent of activities it offers. It is comprised of nine recreational areas connected by over 50 miles of trails and greenways, including five city parks, a nature center, a 600-acre wildlife management area, quarries, lakes, and playgrounds. This extensive area facilitates numerous recreational activities including mountain biking, running, hiking, paddling, climbing, fishing, hunting, and ziplining. The urban wilderness is a collection of land parcels owned by the state, county and city government, private landowners, and non-profit foundations.
Using an onsite survey of KUW users, this report provides estimates of the economic value of two benefits provided by the KUW: 1) economic activity in Knox County, TN and 2) recreational access provided by the KUW. While useful, these estimates do not consider many other benefits of the multi-use trail system including employment impacts, job recruitment, trail proximity impacts on property values, and overall quality of life.