The new park, scheduled to open July 17, 2022, spans 14 acres in the heart of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. There will be overlooks, hiking trails, picnic areas and gathering spaces with stunning views of the bridge and the city, surrounded by gardens and meadows with 180 different native plants, as well as a transit center and visitor center with food options, a pavilion and a campfire area.
Rendering of the new Presidio Tunnel Tops park in San Francisco, California. (Credit: James Corner Field Operations)
With so many attractions, there’s no doubt that Presidio Tunnel Tops will be a big success – but how big exactly?
Having used automatic counters in its parks to make operational decisions for more than 12 years, the Presidio Trust knows from its own experience how helpful counting systems can be in monitoring attendance and making decisions. That’s why automated counters will play a strategic role in the new park, according to Tanya Cusenza, marketing manager for the Presidio Trust:
– The counting system will allow us to understand the number of visitors to the new park, as well as seasonal visitation patterns. This data will help us determine the best ways to manage and market Presidio Tunnel Tops.
During the design phase, a total of nine PYRO People counters from Eco-Counter were integrated into the park design. These counters use an infrared sensor to detect people’s body heat as they walk by – so no photos are taken and the count data is completely anonymous – and identify direction. They’ll be installed at various entry points to the park to determine where visitors enter and exit the park.
A PYRO People counter like the nine that will help the Presidio Trust monitor attendance at the new Presidio Tunnel Tops Park
The count data will be combined with other sources of information such as surveys, observational data, focus groups, web analytics and online reviews. Tanya explains that this holistic data system allows park management to understand and respond to visitor demographics, awareness, visitation motivation, likelihood to recommend Presidio Park to a friend or family member, and barriers to visitation.
Let us monitor park visitation for you
Whether you’re planning a new park or implementing a counting system in an existing park, we can help. From setting your organization’s goal for data collection to choosing the right locations for the counters to analyzing the data, Eco-Counter can guide you every step of the way.
Call 514-849-9779 or send us an email to book a meeting with one of our client consultants.
- This post was originally published on the Parks & Rec Business magazine.
