BENEFITS
Northwest Arkansas Razorback Regional Greenway
Fayetteville to Bentonville, Arkansas
Benefits of the Greenway
Overview
The Northwest Arkansas Razorback Regional Greenway will provide a variety of benefits that ultimately affect the sustainability of the region’s economic, environmental, and social health. Numerous studies have made the positive link between greenspace and its benefits abundantly clear. The degree to which a particular type of benefit is realized depends largely upon the type of resource being protected and/or created.
- Trails, Greenways and Open Space yield a 3:1 return on every dollar invested to local economies.
- New emerging high tech, creative and entrepreneurial careers may flourish…needing a better skilled and educated population. Both these trends suggest the need to create quality communities.
Creating Value and Generating Economic Activity
There are many examples, both nationally and locally, that affirm the positive connection between greenspace and property values(1). Residential properties will realize a greater gain in value the closer they are located to trails and greenspace. According to a 2002 survey of new homebuyers, by the National Association of Home Realtors and the National Association of Home Builders, trails ranked as the second most important community amenity out of a list of eighteen choices (2). Additionally, the study found that ‘trail availability’ outranked sixteen other options including security, ball fields, golf courses, parks, and access to shopping or business centers. Findings from the Trust for Public Land’s Economic Benefits of Parks and Open Space, and the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Economic Benefits of Trails and Greenways illustrate how this value is realized in property value across the country.
Greenspace Increases Real Property Values Across the United States:
Greenspace Increases Real Property Values Across the United States:
- Apex, NC: The Shepard’s Vineyard housing development added $5,000 to the price of 40 homes adjacent to the regional greenway---and those homes were still the first to sell (3).
- Front Royal, VA: A developer who donated a 50-foot-wide, seven-mile-long easement along a popular trail sold all 50 parcels bordering the trail in only four months.
- Salem, OR: Land adjacent to a greenbelt was found to be worth about $1,200 an acre more than land only 1000 feet away.
- Oakland, CA: A three-mile greenbelt around Lake Merritt, near the city center, was found to add $41 million to surrounding property values.
- Seattle, WA: Homes bordering the 12-mile Burke-Gilman trail sold for six percent more than other houses of comparable size.
- Brown County, WI: Lots adjacent to the Mountain Bay Trail sold faster for an average of nine percent more than similar property not located next to the trail.
- Dayton, OH: Five percent of the selling price of homes near the Cox Arboretum and park was attributable to the proximity of that openspace.
- Proximity to trails and open space increases property values and marketability of homes.
- In metro-Denver, 73% of real estate agents and 57% of homeowners living adjacent to a trail perceived the trailside location as an asset and priced the homes higher.
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Greenspace Increases Real Property Values Across the United States:
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Greenway Tourism Creates Economic Impacts
Tourism and recreation-related revenues from parks, open space, and trails come in several forms. They create opportunities in construction and maintenance, recreation rentals (such as bicycles, kayaks, and canoes), recreation services (such as shuttle buses and guided tours), historic preservation, restaurants and lodging.
- For example, the 35-mile-long Missouri River State Trail saw the addition of 61 businesses along the trail after just one season of operation. Many business owners indicated that they had made a conscious choice to locate their business along the river trail and most reported that the “trail was having a positive effect on their businesses”
Benefits
- Glendale, CO: The city attributes $40 million in economic benefit from the $4 million investment that Arapahoe County, Colorado has provided through Open Space Program funding to support the development of Infinity Park.
- Leadville, CO: In the months following the opening of the Mineral Belt Trail, the city reported a 19 percent increase in sales tax revenues.
- The Outer Banks, NC: Bicycling is estimated to have an annual economic impact of $60 million and 1,407 jobs supported from the 40,800 visitors for whom bicycling was an important reason for choosing to vacation in the area. The annual return on bicycle facility development in the Outer Banks is approximately nine times higher than the initial investment (4).
- Damascus, VA: At the Virginia Creeper Trail, a 34-mile trail in southwestern Virginia, locals and non-locals spend approximately $2.5 million annually related to their recreation visits. Of this amount, non-local visitors spend about $1.2 million directly in the Washington and Grayson County economies (5).
- Morgantown, WV: The 45-mile Mon River trail system is credited by the Convention and Visitors Bureau for revitalizing an entire district of the city, with a reported $200 million in private investment as a direct result of the trail (6).
- Tallahassee, FL: The Florida Department of Environmental Protection Office of Greenways & Trails estimate an economic benefit of $2.2 million annually from the 16-mile St. Marks Trail (8).
- San Antonio, TX: Riverwalk Park, created for $425,000, has surpassed the Alamo as the most popular attraction for the city’s $3.5-billion tourism industry (7).
- Pittsburgh, PA: Mayor Tom Murphy credits trail construction for contributing significantly to a dramatic downtown revitalization.
- Allegheny Passage, PA: The direct economic impact of the trail exceeded $14 million a year, encouraging the development of several new businesses and a rise in property values in the first trailhead town.
- Dallas, TX: The 20-mile Mineral Wells to Weatherford Trail attracts 300,000 people annually and generates local revenues of $2 million.
- Outdoor recreation is a $ 750 Billion industry employing 6 million.
Greater Opportunities for Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation
Photo by Corey Lowenstien, Raleigh News and Observer
The sprawling nature of many land development patterns often leaves residents and visitors with no choice but to drive, even for short trips. In fact, two-thirds of all car trips made in the U.S. are for a distance of five miles or less. Surveys by the Federal Highway Administration show that Americans are willing to walk as far as two miles to a destination and bicycle as far as five miles. A complete trail network, as part of the local transportation system, will offer effective transportation alternatives by connecting homes, workplaces, schools, parks, downtown, and cultural attractions.
Greenways can provide alternative transportation links that are currently unavailable. Residents who live in subdivisions outside of downtown areas are able to walk or bike downtown for work, or simply for recreation. Residents are able to circulate through urban areas in a safe, efficient, and fun way: walking or biking. Residents are able to move freely along trail corridors without paying increasingly high gas prices and sitting in ever-growing automobile traffic. Last but not least, regional connectivity through alternative transportation could be achieved once adjacent trail networks are completed and combined.
Greenways can provide alternative transportation links that are currently unavailable. Residents who live in subdivisions outside of downtown areas are able to walk or bike downtown for work, or simply for recreation. Residents are able to circulate through urban areas in a safe, efficient, and fun way: walking or biking. Residents are able to move freely along trail corridors without paying increasingly high gas prices and sitting in ever-growing automobile traffic. Last but not least, regional connectivity through alternative transportation could be achieved once adjacent trail networks are completed and combined.
Improving Health through Active Living
A network of parks, open space, and trails will contribute to the overall health of residents by offering people attractive, safe, accessible places to bike, walk, hike, jog, skate, and enjoy water-based trails. In short, parks, open space, and trails create better opportunities for active lifestyles. The design of our communities—including towns, subdivisions, transportation systems, parks, trails, and other public recreational facilities—affects people’s ability to reach the recommended 30 minutes each day of moderately intense physical activity (60 minutes for youth). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “Physical inactivity causes numerous physical and mental health problems, is responsible for an estimated 200,000 deaths per year, and contributes to the obesity epidemic” (9).
In identifying a solution, the CDC determined that by creating and improving places in our communities to be physically active, there could be a 25 percent increase in the percentage of people who exercise at least three times a week (10). This is significant considering that for people who are inactive, even small increases in physical activity can bring measurable health benefits (11). Additionally, as people become more physically active outdoors, they make connections with their neighbors that contribute to the health of their community.
Many public agencies are teaming up with foundations, universities, and private companies to launch a new kind of health campaign that focuses on improving people’s options instead of reforming their behavior. A 2005 Newsweek Magazine feature, Designing Heart-Healthy Communities, cites the goals of such programs: “The goals range from updating restaurant menus to restoring mass transit, but the most visible efforts focus on making the built environment more conducive to walking and cycling.” (italics added) (12). Clearly, the connection between health and trails is becoming common knowledge. The Rails-to-Trails Conservancy puts it simply: “Individuals must choose to exercise, but communities can make that choice easier.”
In identifying a solution, the CDC determined that by creating and improving places in our communities to be physically active, there could be a 25 percent increase in the percentage of people who exercise at least three times a week (10). This is significant considering that for people who are inactive, even small increases in physical activity can bring measurable health benefits (11). Additionally, as people become more physically active outdoors, they make connections with their neighbors that contribute to the health of their community.
Many public agencies are teaming up with foundations, universities, and private companies to launch a new kind of health campaign that focuses on improving people’s options instead of reforming their behavior. A 2005 Newsweek Magazine feature, Designing Heart-Healthy Communities, cites the goals of such programs: “The goals range from updating restaurant menus to restoring mass transit, but the most visible efforts focus on making the built environment more conducive to walking and cycling.” (italics added) (12). Clearly, the connection between health and trails is becoming common knowledge. The Rails-to-Trails Conservancy puts it simply: “Individuals must choose to exercise, but communities can make that choice easier.”
- Access to trails can promote physical health and fitness through regular exercise.
- A few minutes a day of exposure to greenways spaces improves mental health
- Trails and Greenways add a 9-Fold return on investment to local economies
Clear Skies, Clean Rivers, and Protected Wildlife
There are a multitude of environmental benefits from parks, open space, and trails that help to protect the essential functions performed by natural ecosystems. They protect and link fragmented habitat and provide opportunities for protecting plant and animal species. Trails and greenways reduce air pollution by two significant means: first, they provide enjoyable and safe alternatives to the automobile, which reduces the burning of fossil fuels; second, they protect large areas of plants that create oxygen and filter air pollutants such as ozone, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide and airborne particles of heavy metal. Greenways improve water quality by creating a natural buffer zone that protects streams, rivers and lakes, preventing soil erosion and filtering pollution caused by agricultural and road runoff.
As an educational tool, park and trail signage can be designed to inform trail-users about water quality issues particular to each watershed. Such signs could also include tips on how to improve water quality. Similarly, a greenway can serve as a hands-on environmental classroom for people of all ages to experience natural landscapes, furthering environmental awareness.
As an educational tool, park and trail signage can be designed to inform trail-users about water quality issues particular to each watershed. Such signs could also include tips on how to improve water quality. Similarly, a greenway can serve as a hands-on environmental classroom for people of all ages to experience natural landscapes, furthering environmental awareness.
Protecting People and Property from Flood and Fire Damage
Land conservation, including open spaces associated with trail and greenway development, often protects natural floodplains along rivers and streams. According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the implementation of floodplain ordinances is estimated to prevent $1.1 billion in flood damages annually. By restoring developed floodplains to their natural state and protecting them as greenways, many riverside communities are preventing potential flood damages and related costs (13). Similarly, open space can offer the opportunity to buffer communities from naturally occurring cycles of fire, which presents greater risks to people and property as communities grow and expand into surrounding natural landscapes.
Enhancing Cultural Awareness and Community Identity
Parks, trails, and open space can serve as connections to local heritage by preserving historic places and by providing access to them. They provide a sense of place and an understanding of past events by drawing the public to historic and cultural sites. Trails often provide access to historic features such as battlegrounds, bridges, buildings, and canals that otherwise would be difficult to access or interpret. Northwest Arkansas has its own unique history, its own features and destinations, and its own beautiful landscapes. By recognizing, honoring, and connecting these features, the combined result could serve as major attraction for those outside of the region. Being aware of the historical and cultural context when naming parks and trails and designing features will further enhance the overall trail- and park-user experience.
- Trails and greenways are one of the least costly forms of recreational improvements to build and maintain.
Eight ways Trails and Green Infrastructure Builds Better Economies
- Livable Communities Attract Businesses and Quality Employees
- Attract, Enhance Dining and Lodging Businesses
- Increase Real Estate Values and Sales
- Increase Outdoor Recreation Equipment and Apparel Sales
- Promotes Health and Fitness Lifestyles Helping to Reduce Medical Costs
- Increase Fiscal Revenues through Healthier Tax Base
- Construction Jobs/O&M Jobs/Youth Employment
- Save Money….Live Better
Benefits Footnotes:
1 American Planning Association. (2002). How Cities Use Parks for Economic Development.
2 National Association of Realtors and National Association of Home Builders. (2002). Consumer’s Survey on Smart Choices for Home Buyers.
3 Rails to Trails Conservancy. (2005). Economic Benefits of Trails and Greenways.
4 NCDOT and ITRE. (2006). Bikeways to Prosperity: Assessing the Economic Impact of Bicycle Facilities.
5 Virginia Department of Conservation. (2004). The Virginia Creeper Trail: An Assessment of User Demographics, Preferences, and Economics.
6 Rails to Trails. (Danzer, 2006). Trails and Tourism.
7 American Planning Association. (2002). How Cities Use Parks for Economic Development.
8 Rails to Trails. (Danzer, 2006). Trails and Tourism.
9 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (1996). Physical Activity and Health: A Report of the Surgeon General.
10 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2002). Guide to Community Preventive Services.
11 Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. (2006) Health and Wellness Benefits.
12 Newsweek Magazine. (10/3/2005). Designing Heart-Healthy Communities.
13 Federal Emergency Management Agency. (2005) Building Stronger: State and Local Mitigation Planning.
1 American Planning Association. (2002). How Cities Use Parks for Economic Development.
2 National Association of Realtors and National Association of Home Builders. (2002). Consumer’s Survey on Smart Choices for Home Buyers.
3 Rails to Trails Conservancy. (2005). Economic Benefits of Trails and Greenways.
4 NCDOT and ITRE. (2006). Bikeways to Prosperity: Assessing the Economic Impact of Bicycle Facilities.
5 Virginia Department of Conservation. (2004). The Virginia Creeper Trail: An Assessment of User Demographics, Preferences, and Economics.
6 Rails to Trails. (Danzer, 2006). Trails and Tourism.
7 American Planning Association. (2002). How Cities Use Parks for Economic Development.
8 Rails to Trails. (Danzer, 2006). Trails and Tourism.
9 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (1996). Physical Activity and Health: A Report of the Surgeon General.
10 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2002). Guide to Community Preventive Services.
11 Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. (2006) Health and Wellness Benefits.
12 Newsweek Magazine. (10/3/2005). Designing Heart-Healthy Communities.
13 Federal Emergency Management Agency. (2005) Building Stronger: State and Local Mitigation Planning.
