Building a path to a healthier, wealthier Cincinnati

Greenbelt trails aren’t just for fun anymore.

Research data and case studies point to greenway trail systems helping create healthier and wealthier communities. That’s a big deal for cities like greater Cincinnati seeking a competitive edge to lure new tourists, businesses and residents, especially those highly coveted young professionals.

Studies provide ample evidence that suggests completing the Ohio River Trail between downtown Cincinnati and Lunken Airport – and its eventual links to a much broader regional trail system – would be big plus for Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky.

Make no mistake, bike/hike trails are still fun. Fun is why trails have such a magnetic quality, one that attracts people, gets them out and gets them moving. It’s one reason so many CEOs say trails and similar quality of life amenities are important considerations when selecting business locations. Livable communities make it easier to recruit and retain hard-to-find talent, something that can go right to the bottom line of a financial statement.

Show me the money

Anyone looking for information about the economic benefits of what’s called green infrastructure, especially trail systems, only need surf the internet to uncover an abundance of examples. A few worth noting include:

The state of North Carolina invested $6.7 million to widen bike lanes, build off-road trails and improve bike friendly infrastructure along its Outer Banks coastal region. The state estimates its public investment has generated an additional $60 million a year in tourism-related revenues. That’s an almost 900 percent return on initial investment – every year.

Between 1975 and 2006, the city of Minneapolis invested $86 million of public funding in its downtown scenic byways district along the Mississippi River, generating $1.5 billion private investment and 20,000 new residents.

In Denver, an $80 million public investment in greenway trails and related green space resulted in $5 billion worth of private investment.

A University of Cincinnati study in 2008 showed the average sale price of a property decreases in value by $7.05 for every foot in distance it rests from a bike trail. In other words, being closer to the Little Miami Scenic trail adds to the value of single family residential properties.

Power to the People – Ride On!

Then there are the health benefits of peddle power. Those benefits are especially important in a country fighting an obesity epidemic and grappling with a healthcare system about to collapse under the weight of its own costs. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, more than 34 percent of Americans are obese and 32.7 percent are overweight.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control includes bike trails as a central component of its scoring system and recommendations for what denotes healthy communities and healthful urban design.

A few quick examples of medical studies on the benefits of trails and active green space include:

A 2005 study in the Journal of Health Promotion Practice showed that in Lincoln, Nebraska, every $1 spent on trails produced $3 in public health benefits. One of the primary benefits identified by the study was the reduction of health care costs associated with inactivity.

A 2008 study in the American Journal of Health Promotion on green space and trails showed an association between living in greener neighborhoods and a reduced risk of being overweight among children between the ages of 3 and 18.

Another study in the American Journal of Health Promotion published in 2005 showed an association between the amount of green space and trails in a community and the degree to which people walk or ride their bicycles for daily transportation needs. Higher amounts of park acreage, for example, led to higher activity levels for walking and cycling.

A 2006 study in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health reports the percentage of green space in people’s living environment has a positive association with the perceived general health of residents. The study went on to conclude that green space and related amenities are more than a luxury and that they should be included in any community planning policy.

If you are interested in helping put Greater Cincinnati on the path to a healthier, wealthier future, please visit www.ohiorivertail.com for more information, or to contribute.

-- Nick Miller