Sagamore Trail | West Lafayette, Indiana

Client: Sagamore Trail Municipality
Facility: Sagamore Parkway West, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA

THE OUTCOME

PROJECT BACKGROUND

The City of West Lafayette identified a critical need to upgrade the existing trail lighting infrastructure along Sagamore Parkway West. The area’s legacy lighting infrastructure was no longer viable for safe pedestrian and cyclist access after dusk, especially in zones with tree cover and poor fixture placement. Existing fixtures lacked beam control and required frequent maintenance due to weather exposure, aging components, and inefficient output. 

The legacy high-wattage fixtures posed multiple challenges: 

• Poor Visibility: Inconsistent illumination created safety concerns for nighttime use. 
• High Energy Load: Older systems consumed significantly more power with no energy-saving controls. 
• Maintenance Burden: Frequent failures, low durability, and outdated designs increased service costs. 
• Visual Disruption: Harsh lighting created glares that disrupted the natural appeal of the trail surroundings. 

The city aimed to modernize the trail’s lighting with a solution that offered long-term reliability, consistent coverage, and reduced energy expenditure without overhauling the existing pole and conduit network.

IKIO’S END-TO-END APPROACH  

IKIO adopted a community-first retrofit strategy, combining precision engineering, design sensitivity, and execution planning tailored to public-use pathways. The solution was delivered in the following phases: 

Photometric Simulation & Trail Zoning 

• Conducted photometric modeling across various trail segments 
• Assessed pole spacing, mounting height, canopy interference, and pedestrian traffic density 
• Prioritized high-traffic and high-risk trail zones for uniform lighting coverage 

Fixture Optimization for Outdoor Trails 

• Selected IKIO Bollard Lights (17W, 3000K) with low-glare distribution for pedestrian-level pathways 
• Configured light placement to minimize backscatter into adjacent residential areas 
• Ensured ground-level uniformity without overlighting or uplight pollution 

Environmental & Lifecycle Engineering 

• All fixtures constructed with die-cast aluminum, IK10 impact rating, and IP65 protection 
• Integrated 0–10V dimming capability for adaptive lighting potential in future upgrades 
• Thermal optimization and sealed housing prevent internal corrosion and bug ingress 

Seamless Implementation 

• Installation carried out in trail sections to avoid pedestrian disruption 
• Fixtures were pre-wired and pre-mounted to reduce on-site labor time 
• Coordinated closely with local crews to ensure infrastructure integrity and trail reopening timelines 

TECHNICAL SOLUTIONS DELIVERED 

MEASURABLE RESULTS 

• 637,655+ kWh in projected annual energy savings 
• 99% improvement in visibility and public comfort during night hours 
• $46,867+ estimated annual cost reduction (energy + maintenance) 
• Longer fixture lifespan with reduced maintenance intervals 
• Consistent ambiance across entire trail, enhancing community usage

STRATEGIC IMPACT  

• Public Safety: Safer pedestrian zones and jogging paths after dark. 
• Operational Efficiency: Lower utility and maintenance burden for city authorities. 
• Environmental Alignment: Lower carbon output supports green city initiatives. 
• Design Consistency: Maintains the scenic integrity of a high-traffic public trail. 
• Scalability: Establishes a lighting model replicable for other trail and park zones across the city. 

CLIENT TESTIMONIAL 

“The updated lighting along the Sagamore Trail has noticeably improved visibility and safety. The installation was quick and didn’t interfere with the trail’s usage. These new fixtures not only look great but are helping us move closer to our city’s sustainability goals.” 
— Parks & Recreation Department, City of West Lafayette 

CONCLUSION

IKIO’s lighting retrofit for the Sagamore Trail demonstrates how specialized LED solutions can transform public infrastructure while aligning with safety, efficiency, and sustainability goals. By engineering a solution tailored to outdoor pedestrian use, IKIO delivered a high-performance, low-disruption lighting upgrade that serves as a benchmark for future municipal trail projects.