Over the past five years, I have read research reports, books and articles on greenways. I have attended greenway conferences and visited several of the greenways around the nation. Major crime problems and vagrancy along greenways do not seem to exist. Criminals and transients prefer staying away from areas frequented by patrols and lawful citizens. Greenways work wonders for local economies.
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.