Greenways and traits attract the tourists to a region. The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources opened the Pine Creek trail last August. Already, thousands of visitors have flocked to the trail to experience one of the most picturesque areas of the state, if not the country - Pennsylvania's Grand Canyon. And where the tourists go, economic development follows. And economic development, in turn, encourages new business ventures in a region.
Greenways are like a magnet.
They draw people in. People want to work near them, live near them, build their lives around their natural beauty. Communities with greenways and trails show more growth and land-value retention. And in that regard, Pennsylvania is a blessed state. We are a national leader and should be proud of the greenway network we have created.