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Benefits of a Greenways for Oldham County
Since 1960, over 10,000 miles
of former rail line have been opened as multi-use nation wide--another 8,000
miles are being planned. What was once considered broad speculation is
now hard fact regarding the benefits of trails to communities across the
country.
What is a GREENWAY?
A greenway is a corridor of
protected open space managed for conservation, recreation and non-motorized
transportation. Greenways often follow natural geographic features such as
ridge lines, stream valleys, and rivers, but may also be built along canals,
utility corridors, or abandoned rail lines. Widths may vary from thirty to a
thousand feet. Most greenways include a trail or bike path, but others may
be designed strictly for environmental or scenic protection.
Greenways, as vegetated linear
parks, provide tree cover, wildlife habitat, and riparian buffers to protect
streams. The environmental benefits include reduced stormwater runoff, flood
reduction, water quality protection, and preservation of biological
diversity. The trails within the greenways provide access between
neighborhoods and destination points, opportunity to travel without an
automobile, outdoor education classrooms, and close-to-home paths for
walking, jogging, bicycling, and roller blading. Tree cover and use of
bicycles instead of cars provide for better air quality , fewer hard
surfaced parking lots, and reduced energy costs.
Greenway benefits improve the
quality of life in a community and translate ultimately into economic
viability. Businesses want to locate in communities their employees will
like. Wellness and fitness promotion reduce corporate health costs. Outdoor
recreation facilities draw tourists and tourists spend money.
What are the Benefits of
GREENWAYS?
No other conservation
initiative provides so many ecological, economic, and quality of life
benefits to the communities that create them. Greenways not only protect
environmentally important lands and native plants and animals, they also
link people with the natural world and outdoor recreational opportunities.
Greenways can also:
* Help preserve the
biological diversity of plant and animal species by maintaining the
connections between natural communities.
* Soften urban and suburban landscapes with ribbons of green that
improve the quality of life and enhance property values.
* Help protect the quantity and quality of water, a natural resource
vital to people, plants and wildlife.
* Direct development and growth away from important natural resource
areas.
* Provide alternative transportation routes that connect people,
communities and the countryside.
* Act as outdoor classrooms.
What are the Economic Benefits of GREENWAYS? *
Real Property Values
- Many studies demonstrate that parks, greenways and trails increase nearby
property values. In turn, increased property values can increase local tax
revenues and help offset greenway acquisition costs.
Expenditures by Residents - Spending by local residents on
greenway related activities helps support recreation oriented businesses and
employment, as well as other businesses which are patronized by greenways
and trail users.
Commercial Uses - Greenways often provide business
opportunities, locations and resources for commercial activities such as
recreation equipment rentals and sales, lessons and other related
businesses.
Tourism - Greenways are often major tourist attractions
which generate expenditures on lodging, food and recreation oriented
services. Greenways also help improve the overall appeal of a community to
perspective tourists and new residents.
Agency Expenditures - The agency responsible for managing a
river, trail or greenway can help support local businesses by purchasing
supplies and services. Jobs created by the managing agency may also help
increase local employment opportunities.
Corporate Relocation - Evidence shows that the quality of
life of a community is an increasingly important factor in corporate
relocation decisions. Greenways are often cited as important contributors to
quality of life.
Public Cost Reduction - The conservation of rivers, trails,
and greenways can help local governments and other public agencies reduce
costs resulting from flooding and other natural hazards.
Intrinsic Value - While greenways have many economic
benefits it is important to remember the intrinsic environmental and
recreational value of preserving rivers, trails and other open space
corridors.
*Adapted from Economic Impacts of Protecting Rivers,
Trails and Greenway Corridors, National Park Service, 1990
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