Tourism, Recreation and Trail Impacts - Tourism and Trails: Cultural, Ecological and Management Issues - page 162

(Iles & Wiele, 1993; Kulshreshtha & Gillies, 1993; Wandres, 2000). Home
buyers have indicated that having trails in their area was a deciding factor in
their home purchase decision (Bowers, 2000: 22).
The tranquility, open spaces and scenic views associated with rural and
suburban trails have been shown to increase property values dramatically,
much the same way proximity to parks and other green spaces has added to
property values for years, owing to the notion that designated open spaces
ostensibly 'guarantee' that no other structures will be built behind or next
to the them. Research by Crompton (2001) indicates that while contiguity
to trailways can boost real estate values, nearness to trailheads or other
access points can augment land rates even more. 'The enhanced value derives
from people's willingness to pay a larger amount of money for a home located
close to these types of areas than they are for a comparable home further
away because of the tranquility, peace, and psychological relaxation such
vistas often provide' (Crompton, 2001: 115).
Conclusion
This chapter set out to discuss the impacts (costs and benefits) from trail
and route recreation and tourism. These impacts can be simply categorized
as ecological, social and economic. With respect of ecological outcomes the
vast majority of discourse has been on the costs more than the benefits in
terms of soil compaction, erosion, vegetation loss, wildlife disturbance and
behavior modification, as well as the loss or degradation of parts of the
tangible heritage. These negative impacts usually outweigh the positive
ecological benefits associated with trails and routes, namely conservation,
interpretation and education, urban renewal of brownfield linear space and
development of urban greenways.
Trails and routes have social costs, both in terms of the perceptions and
experiences of residents as well as the views and experiences of visitors.
Resident perceptions on trails and routes has often been to take a NIMBY
(not in my backyard) approach because of their expectation of loss of privacy,
personal liability for recreationists injured on their land, lower property
values, crowding, vandalism and crime, perceptions that have often been
followed up with overt and deliberate actions against trail and route plan-
ning and construction. As for trail consumers (residents and tourists),
research reveals that social impacts result from conditions along trails and
routes of overcrowding, unacceptable levels of noise and inappropriate behav-
ior, all of which in turn often lead to avoidance behavior. In contrast, trails
and routes offer residents and visitors alike many benefits, such as enhancing
their quality of life and providing opportunities for bettering their health.
Linear spaces can help build community identity and create a sense of place,