There is mounting evidence that inefficient, sprawling growth is actually a net drain on community tax coffers. A 1994 analysis of three Minnesota cities shows that residential development costs more tax dollars than it contributes in tax revenues. In Wright County, when service costs of residential development were compared with the revenue they generated, low density residential development had a net deficit which was more than four times that of high density residential development. Protect More than Open Space Around the Midwest and throughout the country, green corridors have worked to help communities accommodate fast growth and still keep the landscapes they love. Green corridors provide connections between communities, between already protected lands, and between people and the land.
Green corridors protect our green infrastructure, providing a legacy for future generations.
Communities in places from Massachusetts and Michigan to Colorado and Oregon have used green corridors to improve the appeal of neighborhoods and support their long-term tax base. Economic studies around the country have demonstrated proximity to open spaces, agricultural land, and parks boosts property values and enhances the appeal of neighborhoods. A study in Boulder, Colorado found that properties immediately next to green corridors had market values 32 percent more on average than similar properties without green corridors nearby. Realtors confirm that proximity to the trail enhances the appeal and selling value of property. The Green Corridor Project will help people keep the landscape we love using four incentive-based tools.