Theme 2: Our Streets and Trails
The second theme from our Strategic Plan we are exploring is our Streets and Trails. While the goals differ from our first theme, Our Public Space, the two themes have a close relationship. Consider them siblings. Same family but different personalities. For instance, in our public space theme our goal is to “consider Main Street less as a thoroughfare and more as an active public space.” Whereas in this theme our goal is to “calm intersections and prioritize pedestrians along key streets and Main Street in particular.” The two work hand in hand, put with our public spaces theme the driver is activity and with our streets and trails theme our driver is safety. (Missed opportunity for a ‘driver’ pun there?) Both goals are necessary however.
Our vision for our streets and trails is to build safe bicycle and pedestrian connections between our schools, the reservoir, downtown, and the river. Then, look further out and better connect to Gilboa and Glandorf. We have eight principles and objectives that are guiding that vision.
Build an interconnected off-street trail network that connects neighborhoods to schools, downtown, and the river.
Maintain clear branding, pavement markings, signage, and debris/snow clearance along the trail network.
Calm intersections and prioritize pedestrians along key streets and Main Street in particular.
Grow usage of the Blanchard River Float Trail as an active part of the trail system.
Support the growing use of golf carts, eBikes, and electric vehicles.
Broaden the presence of active living in marketing Ottawa.
Reduce reliance on school busing.
Ensure that pedestrian comfort and safety are at the core of every street improvement.
It is great to have a vision and goals for our streets and trails, but let’s dive deeper into why these matter in the first place. We will broadly put the ‘why’ into three buckets:
Our Public Health
Economic Development
Stewardship
To provide some expert opinion on these areas, we have reached out to our county experts: the Putnam County Health Department, Putnam County Community Improvement Corporation, and Putnam Soil and Water Conservation District.
Our Public Health
Public health is the science of protecting and improving the health of people and their communities. One way public health experts assess what is needed to provide those services are Community Health Assessments and Community Health Improvement Plans. These provide a comprehensive look at our area to see how we are doing and create a direct plan of attack on how to improve our community’s overall health. Let’s hear more from the experts:
“The Go Ottawa Streets and Trails project is an exciting theme that encompasses public health by aiming to protect and improve the health of the people of Putnam County! In our most recent Community Health Assessment (CHA), we found the following about Putnam County residents:
60% of those surveyed described themselves as overweight.
Only 36% of residents surveyed exercise more than two times per week.
According to County Health Rankings, Putnam County is the 3rd healthiest county in Ohio, which is great! In looking at the data they used, there is still room for improvement. One area where we were lower than the state of Ohio and the US, was in the Access to Exercise Opportunities measure.
54% of residents in Putnam County live close to a park or recreation facility compared to 84% of residents across Ohio live close to a park or recreation facility.
Access to Exercise Opportunities measures the percentage of individuals in a county who live reasonably close to a park or recreation facility. Reasonably close is defined as residing in a census block that is within a half mile of a park or residing in a census block that is within three miles of a recreational facility in a rural area.
From this data, one could conclude that a priority of our Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) is to increase physical activity within our county. In promoting this increase in physical activity, we need more spaces that are open and accessible for our residents. With being such a rural county, having a safe place to walk and cycle is vital. The Streets and Trails theme of Go Ottawa’s strategic plan is one incredible step toward helping achieve this goal by not only increasing access to but providing safe walking and cycling paths for our residents. We look forward to seeing this plan come to life and potentially expand to other communities within our county!”
Allison Rosebrock, Public Health Nurse with Putnam County Health Department
Economic Development
The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) just published a study showing that outdoor recreation is responsible for over $1 trillion in gross economic output. What does that mean for our area though? Let’s hear from the experts again:
“Preserving and creating trails and greenspaces not only makes communities better places to live, it can also be a powerful tool for economic development.
It’s easy to see how trails and greenspace provide environmental, recreational and physical fitness benefits to users, but evidence shows these outdoor spaces are also a source of positive economic benefits. Some of these economic indicators include:
Real estate values are higher in walkable, bikeable communities. Proximity to trails or park settings is connected to higher property values and homes near these areas sell faster for more money.
Increased property values go hand in hand with increased municipal revenues. By creating a climate that increases property values, the tax rolls also benefit.
Homebuyers and businesses are more attracted to the community. According to a National Association of Homebuilders study, trails are the number one amenity potential homeowners cite when they are looking at moving to a community. Businesses are positively impacted because trails offer safe and convenient pedestrian access that enables more individuals to fully participate in the local economy.
Trail towns attract visitors with spending power in areas closest to trails.
Workers are attracted to live and work in the community. Studies show that workers consider quality of life when making employment decisions, and that job attractiveness increases in communities with outdoor recreational activities. Places with well-planned greenspaces help businesses attract and retain workers who then put money back into the local economy.
Retirees are retained and attracted. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, approximately 1 in 4 Americans will be 65 years of age or older by 2050. Many retirees have expendable income to use in their communities. They also typically have higher assets in local banking institutions, expanding the deposit base that can be used for commercial and industrial financing. Trails afford this population a low-impact means for outdoor exercise and recreation.
Trails and greenspaces attract people and dollars - thereby strengthening the local economy. Understanding the economic impacts of trails and outdoor spaces helps communities prioritize investments in order to create and maintain beautiful outdoor spaces.”
Amy Sealts, Economic Development Director with Putnam County Community Improvement Corporation
Stewardship
The more we use our river and trails, the more appreciation we have to care for and protect these vital parts of our community. A neglected river gets filled with broken glass and trash. A well-used river stays clean because we want to continue to use it. Now a word from our final expert:
“Trails are incredible!! In a county with so few areas to enjoy nature in a public setting, trails provide spaces for childhood adventure, peaceful contemplation and the opportunity to do the Earth a good turn. They give us a chance to develop, enhance and preserve our native environments and all the unique features that come with them.
The plants on trails captures and stores carbon, filters excess nutrients and sediment on floodplains, and provides food for our native species of wildlife. They give us an opportunity to provide habitat for endangered and threatened wildlife species. Up to fifty percent of birds and 90% of Monarch butterflies have disappeared in the past five decades. Huge numbers of insect populations are gone which provide meat for higher forms of life. The habitat along trails is rich in opportunity and enjoyment for residents and imperative for making sure wildlife biodiversity and numbers are developed and protected.”
Bonnie Brooks, Program Specialist with Putnam Soil and Water Conservation District
Getting outside and accessing nature decreases our stress, improves our mental and cognitive health, fosters pride in community, creates new economic opportunities and helps us to protect our natural habitats. The value is clear. Now it is time to get to work to continue building safer and stronger streets and trails, and to get outside for a winter hike. Brr.