Benefits of Greenways

"To make a greenway is to make a community.”
      -Charles E. Little,
      Author of Greenways for America

Greenways protect our natural resources, secure open land, and provide a pathway for recreation. As DeKalb continues to develop, a growing system of trail-ways will only become more valuable. Though DeKalb has been developed primarily around car-based transportation, the network of trails throughout the county provides a healthier, more sustainable alternative.

Throughout DeKalb County, an exciting network of greenways is taking root. Already, the PATH Foundation has aided the establishment of trails stretching from Georgia Tech all the way to Stone Mountain. They have developed a master plan for a total of 124 miles of greenways in DeKalb alone. Plans for a new greenway along the South River corridor to extend from the Fulton border to Rockdale are also in development.

Benefits of greenways:

• Make communities more accessible and livable by securing open space.
• Provide a recreational facility for walking, running, and biking.
• Create an alternative transportation option.
• Boost local economies.
• Protect the environment.

Trails are actually useful tools for reducing crime in neighborhoods. They improve local communities by cleaning them up and keeping them maintained rather than letting them deteriorate. Even National Geographic claims "trails are no less secure than other areas of human use and cause no increase in crime."

Economically, greenways have proven to be a rich resource. Not only do they increase the property values of nearby housing, but they also attract new residents and businesses to move to the area. In Boulder, Colorado for example, the property value next to a greenbelt was 32% higher than a comparable home's value 3,200 ft away. Building greenways is one of the best investments for a growing community.