There are many benefits of trails and greenways that planners, funders, and the public need to know about: they make our communities more liveable; improve the economy through tourism and civic improvement; preserve and restore open space; and provide opportunities for physical activity to improve fitness and mental health.

• Benefits of Greenways
• Why are good trails important? from Ontario Trails Strategy 2010
• Ten Reasons to Consider a Trail or Greenway in Your Next Project
• Benefits of Greenways: A Pennsylvania Study
• Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota: The Economic & Social Benefit of Trails
• Environmental Benefits Of Bicycling And Walking, from FHWA 1993 (pdf 344 kb)
• Social, Health and Heritage Benefits of Trails, from Go for Green, the Active Living and Environment Program
• The benefits that trails provide to communities, from the San Diego County Strategic Plan (pdf 56 kb)

• San Bernardino County finds trails are an essential part of healthy communities
• Trails Lead to a "Fit" Community by Randy Martin
• Report of Greenways and Trails Forum for Orlando Area Development Professionals
• Teton Valley grows a trail system
• Teton Valley Trails and Pathways publication: Pathways- how they are important - how they help sell homes - how to build them
• Top 10 ways to work with a developer, By Jim Coffman
• Trails in New Developments: a case study; by Roger Bell
• The (almost) perfect trails community, by Robert Searns
• Trails are important to home buyers, survey shows
• Trails and Greenways for Livable Communities (pdf 310kb)
• Bicycling and Walking to Healthy Communities, by Andy Clarke
• Anchorage trails system adds to quality of life
• Blazing a path to heath and happiness: Collingwood, Ontario, promotes trails
• Artful Ways: enhancing trails and greenways with art and artists
• Green Infrastructure: Smart Conservation for the 21st Century in concert with land planning and development