Benefits of Investing in Trails – The Florida Gulf Coast Trail
Investing in community-centered infrastructure projects such as the Florida Gulf Coast Trail, (Tampa / St. Pete to Naples), are well worth it. Trails produce financial returns on the investment many times over and provide significant intangible benefits that improve our community’s quality of life. Trails provide opportunities to exercise for healthier communities, alternative means of transportation to reduce vehicle emissions, and are a destination for travel and tourism.
Trails strengthen and connect our neighborhoods, parks and public spaces. Trails transform our relationship with the outdoors and can create a world-class public amenity that can define a region. Trails increase the values of properties that are within their close proximity and have proven to be a catalyst for economic redevelopment. Furthermore they are just plain fun to use.
Florida is the third most populous state with over 22 million residents. Florida’s population is currently growing at a rate of about 1000 people a day. The seven coastal Florida counties (Hillsborough, Pinellas, Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, Lee, and Collier) through which the planned Florida Gulf Coast Trail traverses have over 4 million people and has experienced some of the highest growth rates in our state. Residents in our area want to have an active-lifestyle and therefore are supporting the creation of more trail connectivity. Trails provide users the opportunity for walks in our natural environments and open spaces and these uses are linked to fewer cases of depression and to lower stress levels.
Motor vehicle emissions cause substantial air pollution in our urban areas. Reducing the number of automobiles on the road and increasing use of alternative transportation can lower the harmful environmental impacts caused by a large amount of vehicle use. Furthermore, as Florida has the unenviable position as the most deadly states for cyclist deaths in the nation, trails offer a safe alternative to using bike lanes or narrow sidewalks.
Trails, parks, beaches, and access to outdoor recreation play an important role in creating a tourist destination that attracts visitors to our region. Proponents of trail development contend that the longer a given trail is, the greater its propensity for becoming a “destination trail,” and the greater distance users will travel to use the trail. Users traveling farther stay in the area longer and consequently, increase spending in the area. Companies often choose locations in communities that offer a high level of amenities to employees as a means of attracting and retaining top-level workers. Trails make communities more attractive to businesses looking to expand or relocate.
For all of these reasons, investing in our Florida Gulf Coast Trial is well worth it and will result in many diverse and positive returns for our region and state.
