Oregon Non-Motorized Trails Plan Highlights
This is a small, cut-and-paste collection of highlights from the plan. It probably won't cover all of the information you're looking for. If this is the case, download the entire plan (PDF file 1.6 MB, off-site link) and search for keywords or browse the table of contents. Happy trails!
Plan Statute
In general the policy of the statute is as follows: "In order to provide for the ever-increasing outdoor recreation needs of an expanding resident and tourist population and in order to promote public access to, travel within and enjoyment and appreciation of, the open-air, outdoor areas of Oregon, trails should be established both near the urban areas in this state and within, adjacent to or connecting highly scenic areas more remotely located."
Benefits of Non-Motorized Trails
During the trails issues workshops, public recreation providers and trail interest groups suggested that the trails plan include trail benefits information for them to better make the case for proposed trail projects and address some common misconceptions adjacent landowners have about proposed trails (e.g. increases in crime and decreases in property values).
Trails positively impact individuals and improve communities by providing not only recreation opportunities and health and fitness benefits, but also by influencing economic and community development. The following is a summary of the many benefits that nonmotorized trails can provide in the state of Oregon.
1. Economic Benefits.
a. Money spent in communities by trail users.
Across Oregon, non-motorized recreational trails are stimulating tourism and recreation-related spending. Local trail users, vacationers and conference attendees provide direct economic benefits to hotels, restaurants and other businesses from increases in tourist activity and increased spending on durable goods such as bikes or skates, and soft goods such as gasoline, food, and drinks. This, in turn, attracts and revitalizes businesses, creates jobs, and increases public revenue.
Evidence from economic studies include:- Events associated with the Oregon Trail Sesquicentennial celebration in 19937 (coordinated by the nonprofit Oregon Trail Coordinating Council) included the "Official Oregon Trail Sesquicentennial Wagon Train" (joined by over 10,000 people along its route and 20,000 for evening programs), the "Oregon Trail Fest" kickoff event (a two day event in Portland involving nearly 100,000 people), "Company's Coming" (a statewide clean-up day), and "Trail's End Finale" (with over 5,000 participants). Also, considerable commemorative merchandise including license plates, rifles, pins, blankets, checks, coins, traveler's journals, and wine were produced and marketed. The Council raised over $4.5 million in federal, state, and private funds estimated to have leveraged another $19.8 million in additional revenues in the form of contributions.
The section on economics goes into much greater depth. The focus is mainly on paved or improved surface trails, but the information could be valuable to advocates of any trails.
All in all, Oregon's plan backs up its vision with a ton of great information the myriad benefits of trails.
