n OPINION
WHY WE NEED TO BUILD THE EPIC TRAIL
by Bill Mueller
T
here was a time about 20 years ago when talk of economic
development was limited to permit fees and energy costs,
cost-per-square-foot and access to schools for talent. Now,
we know better. We know that cities and regions that offer great
civic amenities — public spaces that connect and inspire us —
come out on top. Consider the economic strength of Denver,
Seattle or Portland. These cities have pulled off the balancing
act of being business friendly and offering energetic downtowns,
museums, art galleries, stadiums and remarkable outdoor expe-
riences.
In the Sacramento region, our globally defining economic
asset isn’t some downtown skyscraper or flagship business.
Our biggest untapped economic asset is natural — the moun-
tains, lakes and surging rivers, expansive oak woodlands and
deep forests, wide open agricultural land and open spaces, and
the incredible parks and trails we use to access them. Increas-
ingly, people and businesses are coming from all around the
world to experience them, and
stay.
According to data cap-
tured by the Downtown
Sacramento Partnership, our
six-county region receives
15.3 million visitors per year.
In Sacramento County alone,
travel spending in 2015 grew
to $3.6 billion, a 5 percent an-
nual increase. These hefty
numbers aren’t surprising giv-
en the economic renaissance now underway, from the Golden
1 Center and the $3.6 billion in new downtown and riverfront
investment to our lively local food scene that solidly supports
our claim as America’s Farm-to-Fork Capital. Yet travelers are
seeking more, including access to the mountains, lakes and
rivers that make Northern California a global recreation des-
tination.
With this in mind, Valley Vision decided to introduce a bold
question: Can we work together to create one connected trail
system from Lake Tahoe through Sacramento down to the Bay
Area? Imagine a trail system where everyone can enjoy the out-
doors for health, fitness and connection to something larger.
Imagine contests and events along the trail that bring athletes
and adventurers in from around the world, drawing us even
greater global acclaim. Imagine attracting and growing firms
focused on health, recreation, the outdoors and tourism, im-
proving business dynamism and creating new local jobs — a
recommendation issued in the recent Brookings Institute’s
“stress test” on our region’s economy. Such a trail system would
be unmatched in the world in length and beauty. It would be a
truly “Epic Trail.”
One has only to look at what’s happening in Folsom and
Roseville to see what could happen if we had an integrated trail
system that makes parks and trails an even bigger part of our
economic growth strategy.
In Folsom, with its 45-mile long network of paved trails,
including the iconic Johnny Cash Trail, more businesses are
locating along the different trailways so that employees can
stay active, enjoy the outdoors and have an alternative route
to work. These employers know that, in addition to offering
more transportation choices, their workers can incorporate
exercise into their daily routines, improving the company’s
bottom line by lowering health costs and improving employee
productivity. In Roseville, the 6-mile Dry Creek Parkway trails
cut through residential and
commercial areas, connecting
people to picnic facilities, soc-
cer fields and fishing access.
City officials in Folsom and
Roseville have prioritized out-
door space and recreation, and
partly as a result, these cities
boast a high quality of life —
along with low unemployment,
vibrant business activity, high
property values and quality
public schools.
Valley Vision’s 2017 report on attitudes about civic ameni-
ties found that 91 percent of Sacramento area residents consider
civic and cultural amenities like parks, museums and sports
facilities important to their quality of life. Young or old, rich
or poor, city-dweller or rural resident — the response was the
same: Civic amenities are vital to a good life. On the business
side of the equation, 87 percent of respondents consider public
amenities important for attracting visitors to Sacramento and
80 percent consider amenities important for attracting busi-
nesses to the region.
Valley Vision then asked which type of amenity people felt
was most important to their quality of life. The No. 1 answer,
by far, was parks and trails. Nothing else — not art galleries,
museums, sports and entertainment facilities — came close.
They are accessible by everyone, can be used daily by all ages,
and advance our mental as well as physical wellbeing.
young or old, rich or poor, city-dweller
or rural resident — the response was
the same: civic amenities are vital to a
good life.
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comstocksmag.com | October 2018