Montgomery Parks Adds Digital Counter to Capital Crescent Trail

Montgomery Parks will unveil a real-time, permanent, digital trail counter display on the Capital Crescent Trail, next to Ourisman Honda, in Bethesda, today, April 9, 2021, at 2:30 p.m. The counter will display the number of bicyclists and pedestrians who use the trail daily and annually. The display counts are gathered from an automated trail counter system, which is already installed on the trail

“Real-time data plays an important role in advocating for the care, management, and maintenance of our trails,” said Casey Anderson, Chair of the Montgomery Planning Board. “I think people will appreciate seeing just how many people use and love this trail, reminding them of the wonderful parks and trails in the county.”

The Capital Crescent Trail is one of the most popular trails in the county, with an estimated 2,500 users every day. Approximately 5.5 miles of the 11-mile trail runs through Montgomery County, with the remainder extending to Georgetown in the District of Columbia.

Funding for the trail counter display and its installation was provided by the Montgomery Parks Foundation, a 501(c)3 nonprofit supporting Montgomery Parks through cultivating financial support and public engagement.

“The Montgomery Parks Foundation mission is to ensure Montgomery Parks can continue to provide exceptional parks and trails systems through additional philanthropic support,” said Katie Rictor, Executive Director of the Montgomery Parks Foundation.  “We are thrilled we could provide the necessary funds to make this important addition a reality.”

The counter display is approximately eight feet tall and two feet wide. It is double-sided and will display the number of pedestrians on one side and the number of bicyclists on the other side. It will be backlit so counts will be visible at night.