BENEFITS OF A GREENWAY
The Greenway provides many benefits to our communities and
to the greater Yakima Valley region. For example:
Physical & MEntal Health
Benefits
The Greenway provides opportunities for physical activity and contributes to a healthy lifestyle, which can help prevent illness and mortality. It is an excellent venue for physical activities such as walking, running, cycling, kayaking, fishing, bird watching, and even a “fit trail” with stations for different exercises. The community’s mental health is also given a boost by having a space to get outdoors, spend time in nature, and move our bodies.
Community
Resilience
Benefits
Improvements that lead to increased use of the Yakima Greenway may contribute to greater safety on the Greenway. For example, more people using the Greenway creates a system of “natural surveillance” or “eyes on the street” by which opportunities for criminal activity are reduced. Safety is also reinforced by the creation of landscaped open space, clearing of overgrown vegetation, and elimination of obscured areas that invite hiding or illegal activity. Additionally, the presence of the Yakima Greenway may result in a physical barrier between the Yakima River and other water bodies and the human-built environment, protecting these areas when flood or fire events occur.
Social & Community
Benefits
The Greenway is a place for social connection, including events that bring together different groups of people and build trust. It is also a place for us preserve, share, and explore our region’s heritage and history.
Education
Benefits
The Greenway is an ideal venue for community ecological education and partnerships with community organizations to raise awareness of environmental issues. It can serve as a place where the public can receive recreational instruction.
Environmental
Benefits
The Greenway creates opportunities for habitat preservation and protection, helping mitigate the loss of natural landscape because of growing urbanization. The Greenway can also improve water quality by acting as a buffer between the urbanized area and the river, protecting the region’s waterways from harmful runoff and pollutants. Other ecological benefits include reduced greenhouse gas emissions and flood mitigation.
Economic
Benefits
The Greenway can save households money by providing free or low-cost recreation opportunities, as well as increasing recreation and tourism revenue by encouraging more people to enjoy the area’s outdoor opportunities and spend money in the area. Improving or expanding the Greenway could also increase the attractiveness of the area for businesses and homebuyers, benefitting the wider regional economy.