ICON Water Trails

ICON Water Trails wanted to understand how its river access network serves Central Iowa and what additional investment could contribute to the region. Working with PROS Consulting, Radbridge combined available visitor counts with mobile location data to estimate use across the network. We examined visitor origins and seasonal patterns, then estimated visitor spending and its contribution to jobs, wages, and tax revenue in Polk County.

Existing access sites received an estimated 252,000 visits from April through October 2022. The study also assessed recreation value and potential health benefits, and examined a scenario for increased use at planned sites. ICON uses the findings with city and county partners to communicate the benefits of existing access sites and make the case for expanding the water trail network.