Discover the hidden benefits of Raleigh’s greenway trails

If you live near one of the Triangle’s many miles of greenway trails, you are likely already aware of how beneficial greenways are for residents. What you may not realize is just how much they add value to the entire community — and even your home’s value.

The Raleigh-Durham area is filled with greenway trails that provide numerous benefits for the entire region. Raleigh’s Capital Area Greenway Trail System and Durham’s American Tobacco Trail connect residents across Durham, Chatham, and Wake Counties. But just what are those benefits? The following are some of the hidden benefits you’ll want to know.

Greenway trails are commonly used for walking, running, skating, and cycling. However, because greenway trails also frequently connect to parks and nature preserves, greenways provide opportunities for you to start up new hobbies. Parks throughout the Triangle, including Falls Lake State Recreation Area, Durant Nature Preserve, and Jordan Lake State Recreation Area, are connected to the rest of the Triangle through greenway trails. Many parks offer ways to hike, fish, canoe, and even play sports like volleyball or basketball. And many also provide programming that includes everything from bird watching to yoga to aquatic programs to dog parks for your four-legged friends.

In fact, research from North Carolina State University shows that regular use of a greenway trail can reduce healthcare costs by up to $1,125 annually. These researchers found that access to greenway trails help people live more active lives, which can in turn reduce the health issues that come with being inactive, including heart disease and diabetes. Taking up a new hobby on those trails can be a great way to take advantage of what’s in your own back yard.

Not only are greenways good for your health. They’re also good for the health of the world around us. For starters, as residents use these trails for their commutes, they are providing an alternative to driving automobiles. That means there’s a reduction in the use of gasoline and fossil fuels.

In addition, the trails help protect the land. Greenways create a natural buffer for the streams, rivers, and lakes to which they connect or along which they are built. That means they protect from erosion and pollution. Plus, because greenway trails offer a natural landscape, it means there is space for the plants and animals that live there, and that they stay protected and thriving.

One of the economic benefits of greenway trails is that they have the ability to boost businesses. According to a report from the Rails to Trails Conservancy, which advocates for trail infrastructure across the United States, greenway trails create new jobs and bring tourism-style businesses to communities.

For example, equipment, recreational rental shops, restaurants, and even construction crews that work on the trails are frequent additions to the local economy as business owners look for ways to deliver experiences to people using the trail systems. Many trails connect directly to shopping centers, golf courses, business centers, and more. That same report said that larger businesses looking to move to new locations cite greenway trail systems as one of the main draws that helped them pick a new headquarters. In fact, the Research Triangle Park is home to a trail system that allows for easy commutes for many of the staff that are housed in the park, illustrating just how important those trails are for many businesses.

A great benefit of greenway trails is their ability to attract tourism. Because these trails often are built surrounding historic landmarks and parks, they tend to attract tourists, who in turn are spending money across the area.

A report from Parks & Trails New York shows that the greenway trails contribute to increased tourism spending across hotels and campgrounds, grocery stores and restaurants, retail shopping, admission fees, and more. Trailway tourism greatly increases the economy of the local area and can even rejuvenate small towns.

According to the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), living near a trail or greenway increases a home’s property value and can significantly increase the value of your home itself. Rails to Trails reported that homes adjacent to the greenway trail at Shepherd’s Vineyard in Apex sold for an additional $5,000, and sold before any other homes.

The NAR also reports that property values of homes near greenway trails may increase, on average, 3 to 5 percent — and even up to 15 percent. In addition, trails are listed as a top community amenity for potential buyers. Living by a greenway trail is a great decision you can make as a homeowner.

Are you interested in reaping the benefits of living close to a greenway trail? It’s a great decision to make if you’re looking for a home. Get in touch to start the process today.

The Jim Allen Group provides access to information on this blog/website as a public service for educational purposes only. Although reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that all of the information made available is current, accurate, and complete…[read more]