What good are trails?

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Economy: A study of the Heritage Trail between Dubuque and Dyersville revealed that trail users added $1.2 million to the local economy in 1991. The Wabash Trace Nature Trail pumps an estimated $600,000 into the southwest Iowa economy annually.

Home value: According to an April 2000 survey by the National Association of Homebuilders and National Association of Realtors, recent homebuyers ranked walking/jogging and bike trails #2 on their "important to very important" amenity list-second only to highway access. In a recent study of three Omaha trails, 63.8% of area homeowners surveyed believed the trail had a positive input on their decision to buy, and 42% felt having a nearby trail increased their selling price.

Health: The National Center for Disease Control recommends providing access to places for physical activity, such as trails, to increase a community's level of physical activity. Improving community fitness is important (and cost-effective) because, according to the Iowa Department of Public Health, 60% of Iowans are overweight and 80% are insufficiently active. This sedentary lifestyle causes 69% of Iowa's chronic illness/deaths and costs Iowans $1 billion annually.

Nature: Because many trails are part of larger greenway corridors, they frequently provide environmental benefits such as wildlife habitat, enhanced water quality, flood control and reduced soil erosion.

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For more information, e-mail Cathy Engstrom, director of communications, or call (515) 288-1846.