“economic impact” Archives

  • Visioning Session Slide Presentation

    Press Release Apr 19 2009
    From Visioning Sessions

    NorthFork Riverwalk Development project completed two 3 hour visioning sessions that include 88 people in attendance on April 16, 2009.

    HDR Engineering Inc. presented a NorthFork Riverwalk information slide presentation (9.7 MB PDF file) to help kick-off the session and what has been doneup up to this point. The presenetation included the results from the,

    • Interview Sessions that were held February 9th and 10th were over 60 individuals being interviewed,
    • Economic analysis of the current trends and possible development opportunities, and
    • Case studies of other communities and how their redevelopment activities relate to the NorthFork project.

    The visioning session participant then completed a Strength, Weakness, Opportunities, Threats (SWOT) Analysis which was a community driven collection of ideas followed by a community consensous on the ideas presented through a voting process. The results were shared with the participants which will be included in a report.

    The final step of the Visioning Sessions was a Geomapping Exercise were participants were able to annotate and existing map of the study area with possible redevelopment activities.

    Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threat (SWOT) Analysis is a good method to collect community input in small groups and then build consensus between the different participants. Each group had 4 sheets of butcher paper that they included ideas on the 4 different areas relative to the project. Each group shared with the facilitator those ideas which were consolidated. Then the individuals where given 4 sets of color dots (3 each) to correspond to the 4 areas and then asked to vote on the idea they felt was the most important. An individual could put on three dots on one ideas if they felt strongly about it.

    A photo album is posted at the Picasa NorthFork Riverwalk website.

     

    Permalink 0 comments

  • Impacts of Trails and Trail Use

    Press Release Feb 23 2009

    This website has a comprehensive list of research material on the impacts of trails and their use.

    Studies of the impacts of trails and greenways, surveys of outdoor recreation activities, and research on adjacent landowner concerns and property values.

    http://www.americantrails.org/resources/adjacent/index.html

    Economic Impact of Trails

    Business on the trails, economic impact studies, economic benefits, trails and tourism, valuing trails, and other ways that outdoor recreation and greenways contribute to the economy and livability of communities

    http://www.americantrails.org/resources/economics/index.html

    This particular slide presentation does a nice job of summarizing the data (rail to trail) on several surveys concerning Crime, Property Values, Trail Opposition, & Liability Issues.

    http://atfiles.org/files/pdf/CrimeOppLiability.pdf

    Here are a couple articles on surveys related to Nebraska. The Omaha survey included the following conclusions.

    Omaha Recreational Trails: Their Effect on Property Values and Public Safety, Study completed 2001 by Project Director Donald L. Greer, Ph.D., of the University of Nebraska at Omaha, Recreation and Leisure Studies Program.

    • The Omaha recreational trails are used often by nearby residents. Over half (58.4%) of the responding used the trails daily or weekly.
    • Omaha trails are generally perceived by nearby residents as an economic benefit. Almost two-thirds of those surveyed felt the trails would increase the selling price of their home.
    • Property owners do not appear to have a widespread concern for their safety. Trespassing, theft and vandalism by trail users were relatively infrequent events.
    • Very few residents in the sample had increased home security, considered moving or wanted the trail closed.
    • Residents living along the trails appear to perceive there to be a positive relationship between the trails and neighborhood quality of life (75%).
    • There are noticeable differences between trails (or neighborhoods) in residents' reaction to Omaha trails. All neighborhoods reacted positively to the trails, but the responses were higher among residents living near the West Papio Trail.

    http://www.americantrails.org/resources/adjacent/OmahaStudy.html

    http://www.americantrails.org/resources/adjacent/NebRuralTrStudy.html

    Here’s an excerpt from one study that I found interesting.

    In 1997 the Schenectady County Department of Planning surveyed property owners adjacent to the Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail. The goal was to look for better documentation of possible impacts of the trail on adjoining neighbors as well as the larger community. The trail sees about 350,000 trail user trips a year.

    Survey questionnaires were mailed to all 315 residential property owners immediately adjacent to the off-street portions of the trail route. Responses totalled 215, or 68%, of the owners. Most homes are located between 100 and 200 feet from the trail. Use of the trail is 44% bicycling, 31% walking, 18% running, and 7% in-line skating.

    Overall, landowners feel that the trail has no effect on, or has improved their ability to sell their homes. Similarly, most feel the trail has no effect on, or has actually increased the value of their property.

    Overall, respondents also reported that living near the trail is somewhat better than they had expected it to be and the quality of their neighborhood was improved modestly. The benefits considered most important by landowners were safe opportunities for recreation, health, and fitness pursuits. In fact, 40% of adjoining households used the trail daily or frequently. Only 14% never use the trail.

    Landowners also overwhelmingly reported that development and management of trails such as the Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail is a good use of public funds.

    Permalink 1 comments

Latest Articles