Individually
- Physical health from fresh air and exercise
- Mental and spiritual health through access to nature and complex physical spaces
- Alternative transportation methods through diverse spaces
- Improved quality of life from convenient access to open space and nature
- No cost recreation
Community
- Increase property values
- Bolstered community identity and cultural awareness
- Attracting and retaining residents in urban areas, and decrease suburban sprawl
- Reduced crime
If you are interested to dig deeper, American Trails has brought together a vast array of articles related to the benefits of trails. Here are some other resources:
- Parks and Trails New York
- NY NJ Trail Conference
- Hudson River Valley Greenway
- Empire State Trail
- Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail
- First Aid for the Wilderness (Thank you Ms. Ainsworth’s OLSCA Class!)