Stakeholder-engaged peri-urban trail development at Swiss Valley Park: perspectives of stakeholder organizations

This thesis explores stakeholder engagement in peri-urban multi-use trail development through the context of a proposed trail in Crete, Illinois. A 2023 community survey found that the Crete community had strong support for trails improvements, this thesis follows up on this finding through qualitative interviews with stakeholder organization representatives within Crete. Interview data was interpreted through the complementary lenses of new urbanism and new ruralism to provide relevant insights for the Crete community, which embodies both urban and rural characteristics. Findings from these interviews reaffirmed community survey findings while also providing insights into stakeholder engagement strategies best suited for the proposed trail in Crete.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Recreation, Sport, and Tourism

Grantor

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2025

Author dc:creator

• Hoyle-Katz, Aaron

Contributors dc:contributor

• Pitas, Nicholas
• Payne, Laura

• New Urbanism
• New Ruralism
• Trails
• Park District
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Community Development

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2025 Aaron Hoyle-Katz

Language dc:language

en, eng

Handle dc:identifier

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/129937

OAI record oai:identifier

https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=etdms&identifier=oai%3Awww.ideals.illinois.edu%3A2142%2F129937