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29 <br />Chapter 02 | Vision + Trends <br />TREND 3 | CHANGES CAUSED BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC <br />The pandemic caused communities across the <br />nation to shut down, yet parks and open spaces <br />became ever more popular. As people sought <br />out places for distanced physical activity, parks, <br />open spaces and trails became high-priority <br />destinations. <br />TREND 4 | TRAILS SUPPORT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT <br />Trails not only improve the quality of life, but they <br />contribute to the local economic development of <br />a region. <br />A high-quality trail system can support tourism <br />in the regional economy. Homes and properties <br />located near trails tend to have higher values and <br />generate more in tax revenues than those farther <br />away. <br />People seek high-quality recreation amenities <br />when they are choosing a place to live and work. <br />https://www.railstotrails.org/resourcehandler. <br />ashx?id=4620 <br />TREND 5 | HEALTH AND WELL- <br />BEING <br />The National Recreation and Parks Association <br />(NRPA) states one of the strongest emerging <br />trends in 2021 is the focus on health and health <br />equity. This movement toward health and <br />well-being has been magnified by COVID-19 but <br />will continue well beyond the pandemic with a <br />greater focus on meeting the social needs of <br />communities. <br />Implications for trails support active living, more <br />walking, running and biking, social gathering and <br />spaces designed for reflection.