Urban and Regional Planning
Research and Creative Work
Student Capstone Projects
Stairway to Heaven & Economic Impact
Date: 1/1/2021 - 5/31/2021
Stairway to Heaven: A Predictive Economic Impact Report
Student Researcher: Paige McCallister
Client: City of Central, Colorado
View Capstone Poster
View Executive Summary
This project took one of the three priority projects outlined in the Central City Trails Master Plan, adopted in Dec 2020, and evaluated its economic impact in a city with no outdoor recreation or pedestrian connections. Central City’s objective in building the “Stairway to Heaven,” a proposed incline trail that would connect both a population center and lodging was to attract new demographics to the area and provide a much-needed pedestrian connection. Evaluating national trends on outdoor recreation and utilizing case studies, three scenarios were presented to best show how introducing outdoor recreation can bring economic growth and diversification.
Graduate Research Assistant Work to Support Faculty Research
Stairway to Heaven & Economic Impact
Date: 1/1/2021 - 5/31/2021
Stairway to Heaven: A Predictive Economic Impact Report
Student Researcher: Paige McCallister
Client: City of Central, Colorado
View Capstone Poster
View Executive Summary
This project took one of the three priority projects outlined in the Central City Trails Master Plan, adopted in Dec 2020, and evaluated its economic impact in a city with no outdoor recreation or pedestrian connections. Central City’s objective in building the “Stairway to Heaven,” a proposed incline trail that would connect both a population center and lodging was to attract new demographics to the area and provide a much-needed pedestrian connection. Evaluating national trends on outdoor recreation and utilizing case studies, three scenarios were presented to best show how introducing outdoor recreation can bring economic growth and diversification.