Acquisition of The Black’s Run Bridge will enable an estimated $10 million in trail-related projects through the heart of Beaver County. Renovation of the bridge and construction of the trail will comprise the bulk of such economic activity. Over time and depending on the buy-in that can be secured from surrounding municipalities, county agencies, and business owners along the trail, this number could be substantially higher. Opportunities exist along the trail to explore the creation of riverfront parks and overlooks, scenic vistas off of Old State Route 51, solar powered light gardens along the trail, electric bike routes and charging stations, and much more.
Outdoor recreation contributes over $800 billion a year to the US economy. This amounts for nearly 7 million jobs, roughly 5 times the total number of jobs generated by WalMart, America’s single largest employer. Prior to COVID-19, over 115 million Americans per year utilized trail networks like those being proposed here in Beaver County. In Pennsylvania, the number of trail users during COVID-19 is reported to have nearly doubled when compared to 2018 figures. Not only are more people using trails in PA, but studies also demonstrate a significant change in demographics related to trail use. Simply put, a substantially greater number of younger and more diverse residents are using trails than ever before. This trend is only expected to continue beyond COVID-19.
Trail connectivity also provides innumerable benefits from the vantage point of regional tourism. In 2019, visitors to Pennsylvania spent over $46 billion across a wide range of sectors. Such spending is estimated to have supported nearly 350,000 jobs in Pennsylvania. Less than 20% of statewide spending on tourism occurred in the Greater Pittsburgh region, demonstrating significant opportunity for increased market share. In 2019, for example, Beaver County reported just over $300 million in tourism revenue, less than half of the $715 million reported by Washington County, home to the award-winning Montour Trail.
Below, you will first find a two brief summaries of the financial benefits associated with having a trail that runs through your community. Following this, we have included a handful of other recent studies that extensively demonstrate the expansive economic impact that trail development can have on a region.
As the documents below make abundantly clear, taking ownership of the Black's Run Bridge is not a liability. It is an investment in the future economic health, quality of life, and connectivity of Beaver County and beyond.
By clicking on the images below, you will be taken to a copy of the full report.
