Healthy Trails, Healthy People Program advances 144 miles of trail

In 2004, Parks & Trails New york launched it's Healthy Trails, Healty People (HTHP) program to help communities develop more active environments and an enhanced quality of life through the creation of mult-use trails. Funded in part by grants from the Healthy Heart Program and the Disability and Health Program at the NYS Department of Health (NYSDOH), The HTHP program has helped 27 different communities in 25 counties with their trail development efforts. The results are impressive: a total of 12.1 miles of new trail is open in five communities, another community will open a mile of trail in the summer of 2009, and 6.5 additional miles of trail are under construction. When all projects are complete, 144 miles of trail will be open to the public.

Five to seven communities were added annually to the program over five years using an application process. PTNY’s efforts were tailored to the individual needs of each community with the goal of helping them develop the vision, constituencies, and local support critical to the long-term success of trail development efforts. As the chart below indicates, at the conclusion of the NYSDOH contract period, 22 communities were still actively engaged in trail development and committed to completing their trail project. Communities also formed six new trail groups and leveraged almost 10,000 volunteer hours and four million dollars in grants, contributions, and in-kind donations, including six major government grants. Three other communities are awaiting word of major grants that will help them move forward with their efforts.

Healthy Trails, Healthy People Program Accomplishments
Number of communities actively involved in trail creation
22
Number of communities making significant progress toward trail creation
9
Number of communities nearing final trail development
11
Number of communities with new trail section open to the public
5
Number of miles of new trail open to the public
12.1
Number of communities with new trail under development
4
Number of miles of new trail under development
7.5
Number of communities engaged in trail planning and design
4
Number of miles of new trail to be created when all projects are complete
144
Number of new trail groups formed
6

To assist individuals and communities other than those selected for targeted technical assistance, PTNY launched a bi-monthly electronic newsletter that delivered timely information affecting parks and trails to 5,000 persons; published a 40-page how-to guide, Getting Started: A Guide to Planning Trails in New York State and a 24-page guide, Getting on Track: Working with Railroads to Build Trails in New York State that were distributed to or downloaded by more than 7,000 persons. PTNY’s two statewide trail and greenway conferences provided nationally recognized speakers and forums examining current issues of importance for 350 trail advocates. To address the needs of persons with disabilities, 49 persons were trained to assess trails for their accessibility using the nationally recognized Universal Trail Assessment Profile (UTAP). Lastly, PTNY helped form the 70-plus-member New York State Trails Coalition to foster communication, networking, and advocacy among trail volunteers and professionals across the state.

Through its Healthy Trails, Healthy People program, PTNY more effectively promotes the health and quality of life benefits of trails and better addresses the growing need for trail development assistance from communities throughout the state. PTNY is recognized as the "go-to" organization for trails in New York State, which has enabled it to secure additional public and private funding for other trail-related initiatives and to support future HTHP program efforts.

Why Healthy Trails, Healthy People?

New Yorkers need to be more active! In 2006, 58% of New York adults were overweight or obese. Obesity adds more than $6 billion annually to health care costs in New York State. Medical research has shown that being overweight or obese can contribute to high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and an increased risk for some forms of cancer.

Walking is one of the easiest ways to become more physically active and control weight. And what better place to walk than on a local trail. Close to home, multi-use trails can provide free or low cost opportunities for everyone, irrespective of age or fitness level, to increase their level of daily physical activity. People who report having access to sidewalks and trails are 28-55% more likely to be physically active.

Trails can also help protect valuable open space; preserve natural and historic resources; increase tourism and recreation-related business activity; provide safe off-road links to parks, schools, libraries, shops, and neighborhoods; and foster public-private partnerships, community investment, and civic pride. In a 2002 survey of recent homebuyers sponsored by the National Association of Realtors and the National Association of Home Builders, trails ranked as the second most important community amenity out of a list of 18 choices.

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29 Elk Street * Albany, NY 12207 * (ph) 518-434-1583 * (fax) 518-427-0067 * ptny@ptny.org