How the Prescott Greenways Project will benefit our community


(page under construction, insert benefits specific to Prescott project and community here)

include

fire control
illegal camping
public safety

Increased Property Values

The existence of open space amenities also factors into the

--According to a study conducted for the real estate industry, out of 39 features identified by potential homebuyers as crucial factors in their home purchasing decision, "lots of natural open space" ranked second, just behind "quiet streets and low traffic". "Walking and biking paths" ranked third. This study revealed that the most attractive neighborhoods to live in are no longer golf course communities, but rather open space and trails communities. `

--The developer of the Shepherd's Vineyard subdivision in Apex, North Carolina, incorporated greenways into the design of the development and advertised the greenways as a selling point in marketing brochures. As a result, the lots and houses adjacent to the greenways sold the fastest and sold for an average of $5,000 more than similar lots in the subdivision that were not located next to a greenway.

Business Attraction

Tourists and potential homebuyers are not the only people attracted to communities which contain greenways. Business leaders are selecting sites for the relocation and expansion of industries and corporations where the quality of life is high and recreation opportunities are abundant. Increasingly, corporations are recognizing the benefits to their employees of convenient fitness and recreation facilities and are seeking these greenway amenities in potential business sites. `

--Research Triangle Park's 12-mile greenway trail system has attracted industry to the area. After a five-state search, Reichold Chemical chose to relocate to RTP because, as a company spokesman told the News and Observer, they wanted a corporate site near "the jogging trails". ``

--Prior to the development of the Pinellas Trail through the small town of Dunedin, Florida, businesses were suffering and the downtown storefront occupancy rate was at 30%. Today, revenue from trail users has spurred economic activity. Business is booming and there is now a waiting list for businesses to locate downtown.

Increased Recreation Revenue

Greenways have been proven to attract and retain tourists and expand tourism revenues in many communities. Trail users spend money in places such as hotels, restaurants, retail stores, campgrounds, bicycle shops, bed and breakfasts, gas stations, and ice cream stands. `

--The Tallahassee-St. Marks Trail in Florida where approximately 170,000 people visit every year, and the average user spends more than $11 a day, according to the National Park Service. `

--The Northern Central Rail Trail in rural Maryland which supports 264 jobs statewide and produces in excess of $3.38 million in annual revenues.

Decreased Costs of Water Treatment

Greenways, as vegetated buffers located adjacent to waterways, clean water by acting as filters, trapping nonpoint source pollutants. These pollutants, including sediment, pesticides, fertilizers, oil, gas and other chemicals, are transported into streams, rivers and lakes by stormwater when it rains or snows. Greenways, therefore, can reduce the need for expensive water-supply pre-treatment by cleaning water before it reaches residents. `

--The natural land along the Alchovy River in Georgia provide valuable water quality functions such as sediment, toxicant and excess nutrient removal. The least-cost substitute for the water quality benefits provided would be a water treatment plant costing $3 million.

The growing popularity of outdoor recreation activities, such as rollerblading and mountain biking, combined with the rapid loss of community open spaces has increased the need for quality recreational facilities such as greenways.

Greenways can not only serve as stand-alone facilities, complete with parking areas and amenities such as benches and informational signage, they can also enhance the existing recreational resources in an area by linking parks, schools and recreation centers.

And, in this age of shortened leisure time and busy families, people are unwilling to travel hours from home-they want good recreation opportunities, like greenways, within a few miles of where they live and work.

 

The transportation system in the Triangle Region, and in the U. S., has become increasingly focused on accommodating the movement of cars and trucks, providing few opportunities for the movement of people who cannot or do not use automobiles.  This has led to increased congestion and poor air quality.

However, the development of greenways and other bicycle and pedestrian facilities in the Triangle will offer individuals a choice in their mode of travel. Greenways, as part of a regional trail system, will offer transportation alternatives by connecting homes, workplaces, schools, parks, shopping centers and cultural attractions.

These facilities will also increase the efficiency of transit by connecting with bus stops and accommodate the needs of those who do not or cannot drive.

--National surveys by the Federal Highway Administration have shown that Americans are willing to walk as far as two miles to a destination, and bike as far as five miles. Considering that 63% of all travel trips made are less than five miles in length, greenways can serve as viable alternatives to automobile travel.

--The amount of auto travel in the Triangle region is expected to increase by 90% ,and heavily congested, peak-hour traffic is expected to nearly double, by 2020--even if roads are expanded as planned (Source: Triangle Transit Authority).

 

Flooding causes more damage to communities across the nation than any other type of natural disaster--$4.6 billion every year. One reason for this loss is the fact that many floodprone areas have been heavily developed.

Today, communities are beginning to realize the benefit in preserving floodplain lands as greenways, instead of building homes and businesses in them, which reduces flood damages. Greenways also lessen the impacts of flooding by preserving natural floodplains, which reduce the amount and velocity of water during storm events.

--Leaders in Johnson County, Kansas expected to spend $120 million on stormwater control projects. Instead, voters passed a $600,000 levy to develop a county-wide streamside greenway system to address the County's flooding problems.

--The City of Tulsa, Oklahoma and the Army Corps of Engineers are spending $143 million to build stormwater detention basins and protect the banks of Mingo Creek. It is estimated that the completed project will prevent $32 million in average annual flood damages.

--Baltimore County, Maryland acquired 100 homes in several floodplains, which were preserved as greenways, and resold them to people willing to relocate the structures to higher ground. At a cost of $27 million, the County will have protected the floodplain in eight of its most critical watersheds, with a savings of $85 million in storm damage assistance costs over five years.

As natural, vegetated buffers, greenways that are adjacent to streams and rivers act as filters. These "natural filters" remove many of the pollutants that are found in stormwater, including pesticides, oil, gas, and sediment. This polluted stormwater is not absorbed by rooftops, parking lots or other impervious surfaces. The quality of drinking water supplies and other lakes, rivers and streams can be improved through preserving natural streamside buffers as greenways.

--The natural land along the Alchovy River in Georgia provide valuable water quality functions such as sediment, toxicant and excess nutrient removal. The least-cost substitute for the water quality benefits provided would be a water treatment plant.

--New York City was told by the EPA to construct a $8 billion water filtration facility in order to improve the quality of drinking water supplies. Instead, officials decided to protect 80,000 acres of natural land (including greenways) in their water-supply watershed and achieve the same water quality result for $1.5 billion.

Communities are always looking for ways to improve their quality of life, which not only includes a strong economy and low taxes, but also a community with a clean environment, good education system, access to outdoor resources and neighborhoods that are friendly and free of crime.

Greenways are an inexpensive way for cities and towns to improve their quality of life by providing all of the benefits mentioned above. An improved quality of life makes a community a more desirable place to live, attracting new residents, businesses and tourists, and thereby improving the local economy as well.

--"Quality of life for employees" was rated the third most important factor in locating a business, according to an annual survey of chief executive officers conducted in 1989.

Moderate exercise, such as walking and bicycling, performed on a regular basis can yield substantial health benefits for individuals.

Greenways provide safe and convenient places for these activities, which have been proven to reduce stress, burn excess fat, and reduce a person's risk of developing cardiovascular problems, diabetes, cancer and arthritis.

Regular physical activities have been proven to reduce a person's risk of developing cardiovascular problems, diabetes, cancer and arthritis, and serves to reduce stress and improve mental health.

--The American Heart Association conducted a study of men and women employed at 35 corporations across the country and found that those who were the most physically fit had a 37% lower absenteeism rate than those who were unfit.

--The President's Council on Physical Fitness recommends that local communities promote healthy lifestyles by providing more open space and trails.

 

The interpretation of natural, historic and cultural resources along a greenway serves to educate young and old alike. Natural areas act as living museums and laboratories for people to discover, explore and appreciate the wonders of nature and science.

Lessons on local geography, geology and ecology as well as local human history can be learned through the preservation and interpretation of natural areas. This is accomplished through the development of interpretive displays, wayside exhibits, outdoor classrooms and the involvement of local schools.

--On the Swift Creek Recycled Greenway in Cary, NC, the use of recycled waste by-products in the construction of the greenway facility is the featured element of the trail.

--The Boulder Greenway System in Boulder, CO, contains "outdoor classrooms" which help children learn about surrounding natural systems by providing places where the underwater portion of streams can be viewed from above ground.

 

Why Greenways?

• Greenways provide high-quality residential environments and recreational amenities which have been shown to increase property values and tax revenues and are becoming more important in attracting and retaining productive, high skilled residents and businesses.
• Greenways connect neighborhoods to downtown, parks, schools, employment and shopping areas, cultural amenities and other activity centers.
• Greenways function as stormwater and pollution reducing infrastructure. By preserving and promoting the expansion of vegetated areas along streams, water running off the surface after rainstorms is lessy to cause flooding and is also less polluted when reaching the river.
• Greenways form migration routes for wildlife and connect wildlife habitat in urban areas.
• Greenways will greatly benefit existing river protection efforts, central Ohio's most important natural resource.

• Greenways development has received overwhelming public support in the Columbus Comprehensive Plan, Priorities 95, Together 2000, and numerous community plans.

Why a Greenways plan?

• A Greenways Plan that is multi-jurisdictional will establish regional priorities, standards, and operational guidelines to maximize benefits to all residents. It will provide individual communities with guidance in the areas of open space acquisition and management.
• A Greenways Plan will help to attract private and public funding for development by giving environmentally conscious businesses a resource for benevolent contributions. Upon implementation, it will provide central Ohio with a key economic development tool.
• A Greenways Plan will compile a wealth of information regarding central Ohio waterways, currently in a variety of formats, into a comprehensive Geographic Information System (GIS) database.