Louisville Loop Master Plan loopmasterplan_draft_041813sm_0 | Page 10

physical activity. Older adults, and particularly women, who live within
walking distance of trails and parks have demonstrated higher activity
rates than those without access.
Social networking is an added health benefit provided by trails. Trails
can provide a social focus, enhance a neighborhood’s perception and
lead to greater social ties. These ties have demonstrated outcomes
such as increasing lifespan, improving mental health, and reducing
crime and its associated health outcomes.
Poor health outcomes in a community are also a potential significant
barrier for a community to attract or maintain companies and talent.
Past studies have demonstrated that people who exercise regularly
have lower claims against their medical insurance and spend fewer
days in the hospital. Investment in amenities such as trails and parks
have shown to increase economic investment as well as physical activ-
ity, especially close to home or work. With cities demonstrating high
obesity rates investing in the right amenities to improve a community’s
health can be an asset to lure and maintain companies and talent. Cit-
ies like Oklahoma City are recognizing that an obesity epidemic could
deter businesses that might consider locating there. They and many
other cities are investing in bicycle and pedestrian facilities as well as
parks create the right environment for promoting healthy and active
lifestyles.
Economic Benefits
Trails, pedestrian pathways and bicycle paths have repeatedly proven
to contribute to local economies through more than one route. Job
creation, tourism, the development of commercial businesses and
increases in real estate value are key areas through which these types
of facilities have impacted local economies throughout the United
States. A 2004 survey of by the National Association of Home Builders
documented that the majority of recent homebuyers said trails are the
number one amenity (outside of highways) potential homebuyers cite
when asked what they would like to see in a new community. This re-
sult confirms what researchers have discovered in several communities
over the last two decades – properties within an accessible distance
and direct access of trails (1/2 mile typically) demonstrate increased
property values and provide higher tax revenues for local jurisdictions.
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A recent study of nearly 2,000
residential properties in Ham-
ilton County, Ohio (Cincinnati)
demonstrated the influence of
the Little Miami Scenic Trail.
For every 1,000 feet from the
trail, the average priced house
in the sample devalued by
$8,960. In other words, the
closer to the trail entrance,
the higher the values. Trails
also provide a viable tool for
improving a local economy’s
vitality as a workforce attrac-
tion and tourism amenity.
A recent study conducted by the Political Economy Research
Institute at the University of Massachusetts to investigate the
employment impacts of pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure in
11 cities in the U.S. reveals that off-street multi-use trails create
more jobs per $1 million investment (i.e. direct, indirect and
enhanced jobs) than road infrastructure only projects.
In our high-tech and service-oriented economy, employers and
employees seek communities that provide a high quality of life,
with trails playing a central role. Office site locations adjacent
to rivers, trails and greenways are more attractive to prospective
tenants than sites lacking such amenities. Businesses realize
the benefits of healthy employees, both in increased efficiency
and decreased health insurance claims.
Tourism and recreation-related revenue from trails and green-
ways has the potential to benefit a community’s economy. In
addition to the construction and maintenance of trails and gre-
enways, they create opportunities in recreation rentals (such as
bicycles), recreation services (shuttle buses and guided tours),
historic preservation, retail, restaurants and lodging. The tourism
industry rule of thumb is that for every one dollar of investment,
there is a three dollar return on that investment, if not more.