Numerous studies have been conducted to show the greenway benefits and impacts. Economic Impacts of Protecting Rivers, Trails, and Greenway Corridors was prepared by the National Park Service and is summarized below. Other studies like The Impact of Rail-Trails , also conducted by the National Park Service, have concluded there are various and numerous benefits to users, local landowners, and trail communities. Although legitimate issues and concerns were raised at the onset of many greenways projects, the study showed that adjacent landowners' fears prior to greenway development proved to be unwarranted. Residents and visitors alike enjoy the benefits of trail use, aesthetic beauty, protected open space, and in some instances, higher property resale values.
Greenways go beyond physical connections and include visual linkages.
Under most circumstances, a 300-foot strip of forested area provides an adequate buffer to give a passerby or a homeowner the sense that the area is preserved in its natural state. Even smaller natural corridors, such as those found adjacent to a stream valley, provide significant visual relief. A greenway of adequate width can effectively hide and buffer residents from more intensive land uses and can protect vital natural and wildlife resources. This saves local governments from using scarce funding on fee simple acquisition. In cases where fee simple acquisition may be necessary, studies have found real property values adjacent to greenways and parks increased in value.