Did you know?
The Facts and Benefits of Trails.
U.S. Trails
The longest trail in America is the American Discovery Trail at 6,800 miles. - National Recreation & Park Association
Trees
Trees can lower your blood pressure, pulse rate, reduce symptoms of ADHD, and help kids perform better on tests. - Missouri Department of Conservation
Staying Alive
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends providing more facilities like trails to help people increase their physical activity. - Healthy People
Trails Popularity
Trails ranked 2nd out of 18 in importance as a community amenity in a 2002 survey sponsored by the National Association of Realtors and the National Association of Home Buyers. - Parks and Recreation Magazine
Building Trails
Documenting trail use can result in information that can make an organization more competitive for grant funding, improve future planning and improve the visibility of trails when overall community planning is done. - Research Gate
Trails Fight Depression
According to the Mayo Clinic, regular exercise can increase self-confidence and lower the symptoms associated with mild depression and anxiety. - Mayo Clinic
You Need Parks
95 percent of U.S. adults, 92 percent of adolescents, and 58 percent of children aren't getting the recommended amount of daily physical activity. Parks can help.
- The Trust for Public Land
Economic Impact
Across the U.S., parks, rivers, scenic lands, wildlife areas, and open space help to support the $502 billion tourism industry. - Adventure Cycling Association
Save Health Care Costs
A Brown University study reported that the United States could save $20 billion per year in healthcare costs if every American walked for an hour a day.
- Hartford Advocate
Missouri Jobs
In Missouri, the outdoor recreation economy generates $889 Million in State and Local tax revenue and impacts 133,000 direct jobs providing $4.6 Billion in wages and salaries in Missouri.
- Outdoor Industry Association
Fighting Obesity
32.5% of Adults and 29.4% of Children (ages 10 to 17) in Missouri are overweight or have obesity which is higher than the U.S. median. Current ranking is 17 of the 50 states for obesity.
- Trust for America's Health
Support Trail Towns
Recreational use of trails can bring new visitors to communities or “Trail Towns” which are a safe place where trail users can find the goods and services they need while easily accessing the trail. Many will spend four times as much as a local non-trail user will spend, and an overnight trail visitor will spend twice that amount.
- American Trails