Trails for Health

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Trails for Health

• Robert Tetens, Director
• Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation

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Physical Activity and Trails

• Across America trails have been built and
  maintained primarily for transportation and
  recreation
• However, the question has become

Are trails good for our health?
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Physical Activity and Health

• There is strong scientific evidence that regular
  physical activity promotes health and reduces
  risk of premature death and many chronic diseases

• It is recommended that adults obtain a minimum of
  30 minutes of moderate intensity (e.g., brisk
  walking) on most, if not all, days of the week

(CDC, 2004)
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Physical Activity and Health
Regular physical activity is such a crucial part
of good health our goal is to help people
understand that even modest activity such as
walking or gardening is a step in the right
direction. Julie L. Gerberding, MD,
MPH Director, Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services
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Trails for Health

• There is now scientific evidence that providing
  access to places for physical activity, such as
  trails, increases the level of physical activity
  in a community

(Guide to Community Preventive Services, 2002)
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Health Benefits of Trail Use

• Reduce obesity
• Increase physical activity
• Control hypertension
• Protect against developing non-insulin dependent
  diabetes

• Improve symptoms of mild-to-moderate depression
  and anxiety
• Reduces the chance of premature death

(CDC, 2004)
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Seniors Can Benefit Most

• Americans aged 65 and older are the least active
  age group in the United States
• Locally, seniors are one of the more active age
  groups
• Research has shown that seniors who have healthy

• lifestyles that include regular physical
  activity reduce their risk for chronic diseases
  and have half the rate of disability of those who
  do not

(CDC, 2004)
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Trails Can Be
A wooded path
A rural bike lane
An urban bike path
A neighborhood sidewalk
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Trails Reach the Whole Community

• Walking the dog
• Walking as break from work
• Walking to a scenic outlook
• Walking as a break from driving
• Rollerblade/inline skating
• Jogging Running
• Wheelchair accessible recreation
• Bicycling

(CDC, 2004)
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Trails Reach the Whole Community

• Cross County Skiing and Snowshoeing
• Fishing and hunting
• Horseback riding
• Landscaping and trail maintenance
• Bird watching
• Playing with children

• Strolling with infants
• and toddlers
• Spending time with friends relatives

(CDC, 2004)
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Greenways and Trails in Washtenaw County

• What is a Greenway?
• Corridors of protected open space managed for
  conservation and recreational purposes.
  Greenways often follow natural land or water
  features, and link nature reserves, parks,
  cultural features and historic sites with each
  other and with populated areas Some greenways
  include trails, while others do not.
• - Trails and Greenways Clearinghouse

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Greenways and Trails in Washtenaw County

• There is a county-wide effort to develop a
  comprehensive non-motorized greenway and trail
  network in Washtenaw County that ultimately
  connects all County Parks to the major centers of
  population
• Non-motorized transportation alternatives build
  physical activity into the daily lives of
  community residents
• Governmental bodies are working together to
  better coordinate the creation of a county-wide
  trail network

(WCPR Master Plan Update, 2004)
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Greenways and Trails Action Steps

• Work with municipalities, independent recreation
  providers, trail interest groups and public
  agencies to facilitate the development of a
  county-wide greenway network
• Continue to acquire land and/or trail easements
  to facilitate the completion of the Huron River
  Border-to-Border Trail
• Develop a County-wide Greenway and Trail plan

(WCPR Master Plan Update, 2004)
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Greenways and Trails in Washtenaw County

• Southeast Michigan Greenways project
• Provided a conceptual framework for greenway
  development within Washtenaw County
• Washtenaw County Greenways Advisory Committee
  (GAC)
• Established in 1999 in order to begin
  implementation of a greenway network throughout
  Washtenaw County
• The Huron River Corridor has been given high
  priority in the Countys implementation of a
  greenway vision

(Greenways Advisory Committee, 2000)
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Greenways Initiative

• The Huron River Corridor has been divided into 13
  corridor segments (A through M)
• The first stage focuses on three segments between
  Ann Arbor and Ford Lake (J, K and L)
• A multi-use greenway trail through this area
  would serve its growing population by
• increasing non-motorized transportation
  alternatives
• improving recreational access within the river
  corridor
• improving the cultural and economic connectivity
  between communities

(Greenways Advisory Committee, 2000)
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Conclusion

• The Huron River Greenway Trail will
• enhance the recreational opportunities for
  communities, by improving access to the parks and
  natural areas found along it, and by becoming a
  destination in itself
• provide an efficient inter-community
  non-motorized transportation alternative
• provide a framework for the continued protection
  and appreciation of the natural features found
  along the Huron River Corridor

(Greenways Advisory Committee, 2000)