North Carolina Trails A Path Forward for Economic Growth and Job Creation in NC North Carolina Trail Coalition (NCTC) Summer 2014
N O R T H CAROLINA Meeting Purpose / Agenda T R A I L S COALITION Explore how the State of NC and the three largest trail non-profits can partner to make trails an element of the overall strategy to grow the economy and create jobs. Agenda: • Mutual Goals • Who we are • Economic Impact of Trails • Discussion
N O R T H CAROLINA Trails Support Goals of all State Departments T R A I L S COALITION Regional Asset Exercise I ncreased Tourism Lower Health Care Cost Higher Tax Revenue Community Wellness Recreation I ncreased Property Values Access to Nature New Businesses Well-being More Jobs Quality Air + Water of Life Quality Environmental Awareness Education and Outreach Larger Tree Canopy Preserved Scenic Qualities Alternative Transportation Habitat for Wildlife
N O R T H Our Goal CAROLINA T R A I L S COALITION Make North Carolina the Great Trails State
N O R T H CAROLINA We Connect North Carolina T R A I L S COALITION Mountains to Sea Trail Carolina Thread Trail East Coast Greenway Our combined trail networks will connect over 5.4 Million residents , span more than 2,800 miles and touch 64 counties .
N O R T H Mountains-to-Sea Trail CAROLINA T R A I L S COALITION TRAIL HELPING PEOPLE STATUS VISION BUILDING HIKE THE TRAIL • 1000+ mile walking • 1000 FMST • Printed online and • 620 miles already trail volunteers maintain hiking guides and complete 530 miles of trail maps • Showcases extraordinary natural • Launching Trail Town and cultural places • Donate 25,000+ • Provide back road program to help • 37 counties hours per year connecting route so communities benefit people can hike economically • 1.8 million people entire state now • Save State Parks $526,000 per year • Raising additional • 501 (c) 3 since 1997 • Recognize funds • MST added to State completers and Park system in 2000 major trail developments • $1 million private since 2007
N O R T H Carolina Thread Trail CAROLINA T R A I L S COALITION MASTER TRAIL VISION STATUS PLANNING BUILDING • 11 counties in NC • Year-long process of • Communities, • 217 miles complete community self- volunteers, Thread • 4 counties in SC determination and collaborate • 2.6 million people • Raising additional public workshops • design funds • build • 501 (c) 3 Trail • 76 local government • maintain Organization since • Future signature 140 have adopted master ‘07 mile North-South plans totaling 1,460 spine will connect • Received $7.5 million miles 860,000 NC citizens in land donations • $16.8 million private and generate 6.6 million in tax • $26.5 million in revenue public funding
N O R T H East Coast Greenway CAROLINA T R A I L S COALITION VISION TEAM STATUS • 27,000 supporters and • Urban Sister to • 10 million visits per year followers Appalachian Trail • Headquarters Relocated to • Linking Communities • 850+ miles of greenway the Triangle in 2011 from Key West to complete Maine • NC State Committee Includes Triangle over 90% • 17 MPOs and RPOs complete for 75 miles Advisory Seats for NCDOT and NC State Parks • Growing national press Grassroots Trail advocates coverage including Wall Street Journal and NY Times
N O R T H What Does the CAROLINA T R A I L S Great Trails State Look Like? COALITION Thriving Economy Top Tourist Destination Healthy Residents Transportation Alternatives
N O R T H CAROLINA Topics Today T R A I L S COALITION Thriving Economy Top Tourist Destination Healthy Residents Transportation Choices
N O R T H CAROLINA Trails Support Stronger Economy T R A I L S COALITION Fred Smith Company has been honored to provide construction Fred Smith Company has been honored to provide construction Jobs Created or Supported services associated with the expansion of North Carolina’s trail services associated with the expansion of North Carolina’s trail systems, which has stimulated our economy by more than systems, which has stimulated our economy by more than $23,000,000 and provided work for hundreds of employees and $23,000,000 and provided work for hundreds of employees and subcontractors. subcontractors. ~Fred Smith, Founder ~Fred Smith, Founder The Fred Smith Company The Fred Smith Company Direct spending in Mount Airy by visitors who use the greenways Direct spending in Mount Airy by visitors who use the greenways Reliable Tourist Spending is estimated to be $578,585. The number of visitors along with is estimated to be $578,585. The number of visitors along with their spending makes the greenway system an important part of their spending makes the greenway system an important part of the overall tourism offerings in Mount Airy. the overall tourism offerings in Mount Airy. ~Erick T Byrd, PhD. , UNCG ~Erick T Byrd, PhD. , UNCG Bryan School of Business and Economics Bryan School of Business and Economics Increase Property Values Builders say having a project on the Katy Trail has become Builders say having a project on the Katy Trail has become money in the bank. There is a 25% premium for having their money in the bank. There is a 25% premium for having their product back up to the trail. product back up to the trail. ~Dallas Morning News ~Dallas Morning News Building our network of trails is an essential investment that Building our network of trails is an essential investment that enables the Research Triangle Park to remain globally enables the Research Triangle Park to remain globally Recruit & Keep Businesses competitive by allowing us to attract the type of workers that competitive by allowing us to attract the type of workers that companies want with amenities professional workers demand. companies want with amenities professional workers demand. ~Liz Rooks, Vice President ~Liz Rooks, Vice President Research Triangle Park Research Triangle Park
N O R T H CAROLINA We Have Great Trails to Market T R A I L S COALITION 8D – Tuesday, June 10, 2014 – USA TODAY 15 Fantastic Bike Trails Trail Neuse River Trail - 34 Miles Miles Wake/Johnston Counties Paseo del Bosque Trail, NM 35 Mohonk Preserve Trails, NY 30 American Tobacco Trail - 23 Miles Durham/Wake/Johnston Counties Bear Creek Greenway, OR 26 Gary Shell Trail – 15 Miles Mid-Mountain Trail, UT 26 Wilmington, NC The Wild Azalea Trail, LA 26 Rock Creek Park, DC 25 Bicentennial Greenway - 14.5 miles Greensboro Hockhocking Adena Bikeway, OH 20 Shining Sea Bikeway, MA 11 Black Creek/White Oak – 11.8 Miles Cary, NC Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, AK 11 Skyline Wilderness Park Trails, CA 10 Mammoth Cave Railroad Trail, KY 9 Mallard Creek Trail – 7 Miles Discovery Trail, WA 8.5 Mecklenburg County Animas River Trail, CO 7 Cape Fear River Trail – 4 Miles High Bridge Park Trail, NY 3 Fayetteville, NC Memorial Park Trails, TX 3
N O R T H CAROLINA Virginia Investment in Trail Tourism T R A I L S COALITION Virginia Creeper Trail Damascus, VA – Pop 981 • “Trail Town USA” • Over 100,000 Visitors per Year • (American Tobacco Trail is over 200,000) 34 Miles long • (Neuse River Trail is also 34 miles) Businesses within 8 Miles • 10 Bike Rental / Provision • companies 9 B&Bs • 5 National Hotel Chains • 27 Restaurants • Robust Website and Smart Phone App
N O R T H CAROLINA The Bigger Picture T R A I L S COALITION When we consider all types of trails North Carolina is even better positioned to attract trail tourism. MST Balsam Gap to Stone Mtn – 300 Miles 8D – Tuesday, June 10, 2014 – USA TODAY MST Eno to Clayton – 105 Miles Appalachian Trail – 88 Miles MST Pilot Mtn to Hanging Rock – 40 Miles 15 Fantastic Bike Trails Trail Neuse River Trail - 34 Miles Miles Wake/Johnston Counties Paseo del Bosque Trail, NM 35 Mohonk Preserve Trails, NY 30 American Tobacco Trail - 23 Miles Durham/Wake/Johnston Counties Bear Creek Greenway, OR 26 Gary Shell Trail – 15 Miles Mid-Mountain Trail, UT 26 Wilmington, NC The Wild Azalea Trail, LA 26 Rock Creek Park, DC 25 Bicentennial Greenway - 14.5 miles Greensboro Hockhocking Adena Bikeway, OH 20 Shining Sea Bikeway, MA 11 Black Creek/White Oak – 11.8 Miles Cary, NC Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, AK 11 Skyline Wilderness Park Trails, CA 10 Mammoth Cave Railroad Trail, KY 9 Mallard Creek Trail – 7 Miles Discovery Trail, WA 8.5 Mecklenburg County Animas River Trail, CO 7 Cape Fear River Trail – 4 Miles High Bridge Park Trail, NY 3 Fayetteville, NC Memorial Park Trails, TX 3
N O R T H Economic Impact Metrics * CAROLINA T R A I L S COALITION Economic Benefit Metric Rural/Transitional Urban/Suburban Increased % Property Residential Trail specific 2% - 32% premium Property Values Revenue from Events / Year Not yet available 3 - 173 Local/Regional Revenue / Event Not yet available $21K - $306K Events Local Spending 0 - $ 68 0 - $ 50 Trail User Spending / visit Tourist Spending $74 - $138 $ 50 - $150 Jobs Created / Jobs / mile 1 - 2 10 - 25 Supported Tourism / Visitor Visits / mile / year 3,800 – 15,000 20,000 – 77,000 Counts * Based on review of over 40 relevant studies on real trails in southeast USA and actual user surveys.
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