Economic Impacts of Parks, Rivers, Trails and Greenways

already had one heart attacko Improves the ability to fall asleep quickly and sleep wello Lowers both total blood cholesterol and triglycerides and increases highdensitylipoproteins (HDL or the "good" cholesterol)o Improves self-imageo Prevents and manages high blood pressureo Counters anxiety and depression and increases enthusiasm and optimismo Lowers the risk of developing non-insulin-dependent (type 2) diabeteso Increases muscle strength, increasing the ability to do other physicalactivitieso Reduces the risk of developing colon cancero Prevents bone loss and maintains health jointso Establishes good heart-healthy habits in children and counters theconditions (obesity, high blood pressure, poor cholesterol levels, poorlifestyle habits, etc.) that lead to heart attack and stroke later in lifeo Helps older adults become stronger and better able to move aboutwithout falling or becoming excessively fatiguedo In older people, helps delay or prevent chronic illnesses and diseasesassociated with aging and maintains quality of life and independencelongero Provides a way to share an activity with family and friends.3.6.4 Importance of Accessibility to Parks and TrailsAlaska Congressman Don Young, speaking in support of the Get Outdoors Act in2004 said that “the bill encourages more recreation activity, because studies haveshown that adequate lighting, good trails, easy access, and community-basedrecreation infrastructure all result in increases in physical activity.”(NRPA, 2004)The many recreational activities that take place in parks and along rivers, trails andgreenways are an ideal way to meet recommendations for physical activity. Walking, forexample, is one of the easiest and most beneficial ways to treat overweight conditions. It isthe most common physical activity among both the general population as well as certainsubpopulations such as older people and racial/ethnic minorities. Hiking and walking alongtrails is simple, free, and a great way to get active. It is suitable for all ages and isconvenient for families because trails are usually open during all daylight hours and can befound in many locations. Accessibility to such places is vital because people who haveaccess to recreational facilities are about twice as likely to get recommended levels ofexercise (Huston, 2003). For example in one study, 43% of people with safe places to walknearby met recommended activity levels, compared to 27% of people who did not haveaccess to such trails (Powell, 2003).99