Health
Trails and greenways create healthy
recreation and transportation opportunities
by providing people of all ages with
attractive, safe, accessible and low- or
no-cost places to cycle, walk, hike, jog or
skate. Trails help people of all ages
incorporate exercise into their daily
routines by connecting them with places
they want or need to go. Communities that
encourage physical activity by making use
of the linear corridors can see a significant
effect on public health and wellness.
Trails and greenways create healthy
recreation and transportation opportunities
by providing people of all ages with
attractive, safe, accessible and low- or
no-cost places to cycle, walk, hike, jog or
skate. Trails help people of all ages
incorporate exercise into their daily
routines by connecting them with places
they want or need to go. Communities that
encourage physical activity by making use
of the linear corridors can see a significant
effect on public health and wellness.
Transportation/Livability
In addition to providing a safe place for
people to enjoy recreational activities,
greenways and trails often function as
viable transportation corridors. Trails can be
a crucial element to a seamless urban or
regional multi-modal transportation system.
Many areas of the country incorporate trails
and similar facilities into their transit plans,
relying upon trail facilities to "feed" people
in to and out of transit stations in a safe and
efficient manner. The ability to avoid
congested streets and highways, and travel
through natural areas on foot or by
non-motorized means, is a large factor in a
community's "livability."
In addition to providing a safe place for
people to enjoy recreational activities,
greenways and trails often function as
viable transportation corridors. Trails can be
a crucial element to a seamless urban or
regional multi-modal transportation system.
Many areas of the country incorporate trails
and similar facilities into their transit plans,
relying upon trail facilities to "feed" people
in to and out of transit stations in a safe and
efficient manner. The ability to avoid
congested streets and highways, and travel
through natural areas on foot or by
non-motorized means, is a large factor in a
community's "livability."
Conservation/Environment
Linear greenspaces including trails and greenways
have all the traditional conservation benefits of
preserving greenspace, but also have additional
benefits by way of their linear nature. As tools for
ecology and conservation, greenways and trails
help preserve important natural landscapes,
provide needed links between fragmented habitats,
and offer tremendous opportunities for protecting
plant and animal species. They also can be useful
tools for wetland preservation and improvement of
air and water quality. In addition, they can allow
humans to experience nature with minimal
environmental impact.
Linear greenspaces including trails and greenways
have all the traditional conservation benefits of
preserving greenspace, but also have additional
benefits by way of their linear nature. As tools for
ecology and conservation, greenways and trails
help preserve important natural landscapes,
provide needed links between fragmented habitats,
and offer tremendous opportunities for protecting
plant and animal species. They also can be useful
tools for wetland preservation and improvement of
air and water quality. In addition, they can allow
humans to experience nature with minimal
environmental impact.
Economy/Revitalization
The economic effects of trails and
greenways are sometimes readily
apparent (as in the case of
trailside businesses), and are
sometimes more subtle, like
when a company decides to move
to a particular community
because of amenities like trails.
There is no question, however,
that countless communities across
America have experienced an
economic revitalization due in
whole or in part to trails and
greenways.
The economic effects of trails and
greenways are sometimes readily
apparent (as in the case of
trailside businesses), and are
sometimes more subtle, like
when a company decides to move
to a particular community
because of amenities like trails.
There is no question, however,
that countless communities across
America have experienced an
economic revitalization due in
whole or in part to trails and
greenways.
| Trailside Business |
Historic Preservation/Community
Identity
Many community leaders have been
surprised at how trails have become
sources of community identity and
pride. These effects are magnified when
communities use trails and greenways
to highlight and provide access to
historic and cultural resources. Many
trails and greenways themselves
preserve historically significant
transportation corridors. The fact sheet
"Preserving Historic and Cultural
Resources" has more information.
This is reproduced from the Rails to
Trails Conservancy website.
Identity
Many community leaders have been
surprised at how trails have become
sources of community identity and
pride. These effects are magnified when
communities use trails and greenways
to highlight and provide access to
historic and cultural resources. Many
trails and greenways themselves
preserve historically significant
transportation corridors. The fact sheet
"Preserving Historic and Cultural
Resources" has more information.
This is reproduced from the Rails to
Trails Conservancy website.
Windom Depot 1998 photo
by Kenyon F. Karl
by Kenyon F. Karl
| The Good Things |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |