Nationally, trail-related expenditures range from less than $1 per day to more than $75 per day, depending on mileage covered.  Generally, it’s been found that a trail can bring at least one million dollars annually to a community, depending on how well the town embraces the trail (Sjoquist, 2003).

In addition to the health benefits associated with physical activity, a more active population can yield potential economic benefits by reducing the cost of: medical care and sick leave, absenteeism in the workplace; health insurance claims and maintaining the independence of older adults, thereby reducing the cost of institutional care (Ministry of Health, Ontario, 1995).

Companies and businesses are constantly looking at quality of life when they are determining where geographically to base their business operations.  Trails and greenways greatly enhance the quality of life in communities and are one of the major factors that companies look at when locating their business.

• Pittsburgh, faced with mass exodus of skilled workers and professionals after failure of steel market in late 1970’s, redeveloped its riverfront with trails and greenways that spun off adjacent development. It has since seen a re-emergence of its economy and has moved up in rank to one of the top 5 best cities in the U.S to raise a family (Readers Digest). Chattanooga, TN implemented a similar renaissance (Searns).

• An annual survey of chief executive officers conducted by Cushman and Wakefield in 1989 found that quality of life for employees was the third most important factor in locating a business (NPS, 1990).

• The Joint Economic Committee of the U.S. Congress reports that a city’s quality of life is more important than purely business related factors when it comes to attracting new businesses, particularly in the rapidly growing high-tech and service industries (Scenic America,1987).