Introduction to the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference Peter Dolan New Jersey Program Coordinator
New York-New Jersey Trail Conference Volunteer-directed public service organization committed to: Developing, building, and maintaining hiking trails Protecting hiking trail lands through support and advocacy Educating the public in the responsible use of trails and the natural environment.
Darlington Schoolhouse Future Headquarters of the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference Our Future Headquarters
The Trail Conference Today Volunteers and Members: 10,000 individuals 100 organizations 2,000+ miles of trails including Appalachian Trail ( AT ) Highlands Trail Long Path Shawangunk Ridge Trail 190 Parks, Nature Preserves, and Areas
What the Trail Conference Does Develops, builds and maintains trails Protects Open space lands through support and advocacy Educates the public in the responsible use of trails and the natural environment
Trail Maintainers Patrol their trail section a minimum of two times a year Clear their trail of natural obstructions and litter Blaze and maintain the section according to established standards Educate hikers about trail use and preservation
Trail Crews Work in groups Perform heavier trail work: Recap Water bars, bridges, and steps Clearing large blow-downs New trails & relocate old trails Tools are provided by the Trail Conference
Trail U Introduction to Trail Maintenance Trail Structures Invasive Strike Force Trail Inventory Trail Assessment Shelter Caretaker Training Trail Layout and Design Stone Work GPS and GIS for Trail Management USFS Chainsaw Safety Certification Trail Land Corridor Monitor Training Learn On the Job With a Trail Crew
Protecting Open Spaces From the Hudson Highlands to Sterling Forest to the Shawangunk Ridge, the Trail Conference has been active in land preservation in our region since our founding. In the past 10 years, the Trail Conference has conserved 4,670 acres throughout outright purchase or by assisting other agencies to acquire land. Our conservation work continues.
Be Part of the Action On-Trail Volunteer Opportunities Become a trail maintainer Work with a trail crew Protect the AT corridor as a monitor Field checking Collect trail GPS data Join our Invasive Strike Force Become a Shelter Caretaker
Off-Trail Volunteer Opportunities Be Part of the Action Become an office assistant Work on book projects Manage a map project Web Development Cartography Represent the Trail Conference at events Advocacy opportunities Represent the Trail Conference at public meetings
Benefits of Trails Generally Environmental Social/Health Economic Commercial Real Estate Fiscal
Environmental Benefits of Trails Environmental Habitat Water supply and purification Air cleansing Noise absorption
Social/Health Benefits of Trails Family and group recreational outings Increased health and fitness Personal skill development Environmental education and research Scenic beauty Connecting with nature
Economic Benefits of Trails Commercial Real Estate Fiscal
Economic Impact Analysis Definitions Direct Impact: Initial purchases by trail-related visitors Indirect Impact: Purchase of supplies and services by the businesses directly impacted Induced Impact: Household spending of earned income by impacted business s employees Value of Economic Impact Analysis Better informed decisions
Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail, Montana 75,000 visitors annually $750,000 annual economic impact 61 businesses within 2 miles of a 35-mile long segment 80% of businesses were in favor of trail The trail influenced 17% to locate there initially 28% had increased investments since trail opened. (NPS, 1991)
National Visitor Use Monitoring Project, Rio Grande 50% of visitors listed hiking as their primary activity Spending per individual visit within a 50 mile radius of destination $568 lodging $320 food $168 transportation National Forest (Anon., 2001)
Comparison of Trails (Moore, et al, 1992) 26-mile Heritage Trail, Iowa 16-mile St. Marks Trail, Florida 8-mile Lafayette Trail, California Expenditures* Heritage Trail St. Marks Trail Lafayette Trail Avg./user $9.21 $11.02 $3.97 Total annual $ s $1,243,350 $1,873,400 $1,588,000 New (outside) $ s $630,000 $400,000 $294,000 Add l. durable $ s $523,652 $746,910 $342,172 *All figures reported without use of multipliers
Effects on Property Values (Moore, et al, 1992) Effects of 3 rail trails on the value of properties within ½-mile Large majority of property owners were frequent trail users Majority felt that proximity would increase property values Vast majority of real estate professionals felt trails had no effect on property values
Landowner concerns prior to trail development are greater than the subsequent problems experienced Attitude Before After Opposed 43% 34% In favor 31% 41% Attitudes about Trails (Bhullar, et al, 1991)
Conclusions 1. A multiplicity of benefits 2. Economic benefits are varied and substantial 3. Gaps in the literature What factors affect the types and levels of benefits that trails provide? What are the particular impacts/benefits of longdistance trails?
Citations Anonymous. 8/20/2001. National Visitor Use Monitoring Project, Rio Grand National Forest Bhullar, et al. 1991. Missouri state river trail study. Univ. of Missouri-Columbia and Missouri Dept. of Natural Resources. Moore and Barthlow. 1998. The Economic Impacts and Uses of Long-Distance Trails: Featuring a Case Study of the Overmountain Victory National Historic National Park Service by North Carolina State University, Raleigh, N.C. http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/12000/12200/12275/12275.pdf Moore, et al. 1992. The Impacts of Rail Trails: A study of the users and property owners from three trails. Washington, DC: Rivers and Trails Conservation Program, National Park Service Mowen, A. J. 1994. Differences between rail-trail users and general trail users of the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area. Unpublished masters thesis. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University National Park Service. 1991. Economic impacts of protecting rivers, trails and greenway corridors: A resource book. San Francisco: NPS Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program PKF Consulting. 1994. Analysis of economic impacts of the Northern Central Rail Trail. Annapolis, MD: Maryland Greenways Commission Schutt, A. 1994. The Bruce Trail: An initial study of summer users. Peterborough, Ontario: Trent University, Frost Centre. Unpublished Report. Swan, L. 1991. Preliminary economic impact analysis: Three alternative uses of a railroad right-of-way. Klamath Falls, OR: USDA Forest Service, Winema National Forest, Pacific Northwest Region.
The Economic Impacts and Uses of Long-Distance Trails (Moore and Barthlow, 1998)
Web Citations Presentation to the Ontario Trails Council Annual Conference, May 2004, John Marsh, Trail Studies Unit, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario <jmarsh@trentu.ca> American Trails has an webpage devoted to trail economics: http://www.americantrails.org/resources/economics/ Economic Benefits of Trails and Greenways, Rails to Trails Conservancy: http://www.railtrails.org/resources/documents/resource_docs/tgc_economic.pdf The Business Case for Active Transportation: Economic Benefits of Walking and Cycling (March 2004) - Active Living and Environment Program (Canada): http://www.goforgreen.ca/at/eng/pdf/at_business_case.pdf Economic Benefits of Trails, American Hiking Society: http://www.americanhiking.org/news/pdfs/econ_ben.pdf Greenways and Trails: Bringing Economic Benefits to New York The Business Council of New York State with the New York Parks and Conservation Association: http://www.nypca.org/pdfs/5_greenways_trails.pdf Economic Impacts of Protecting Rivers, Trails, and Greenway Corridors. Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance, National Park Service. Fourth Edition, Revised 1995. http://www.nps.gov/pwro/rtca/econ_index.htm
Other Citations The Economic Benefits of Land Conservation, 2007, Trust for Public Land The Health Benefits of Parks, 2006, Trust for Public Land Sullivan 2020 Toolbox, www.co.sullivan.ny.us/documentview.asp?docid=329 Does Open Space Pay? By Philip A. Auger, UNH Cooperative Extension (no date) The Economic Value of Open Space, 1996, Charles J. Fausold and Robert J. Lilieholm, Land Lines, Lincoln Institute of Land Policy Open Space Is a Good Investment: The Financial Argument for Open Space Preservation, Assoc. of New Jersey Environmental Commissions, 2004