Greenways are a cost-effective strategy for providing recreation. Compared to other types of recreation, they are cheap to build and maintain. Greenways improve neighborhoods. People meet and talk with their neighbors and friends on the trails. And by getting out on the trails, neighbors start joining together to protect and improve their neighborhoods.
Greenways restore and protect the natural environment.
Before being improved with greenway trails, some city areas are abused and neglected dumping grounds for all types of litter. My recent field investigations throughout Gainesville confirm this. Some people might respond to the above by saying that I would feel differently if my house was near a proposed greenway trail. It is true that many people near the greenway often object to it. But that is before the trail is established.