Why Invest in Rock Island Trail State Park?

What Are The Benefits?

Missouri's rail-trails are well-loved: The Katy Trail State Park is Missouri's most popular state park.
Communities along the Katy Trail State Park have experience a resurgence. Businesses have been energized and new businesses launched.
More than 8,500 Missourians have expressed support for this project.
Trails are mentioned more frequently than any other outdoor recreation facility in the Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP). One of the three most supported goals for the State is to "support trails and walkable communities."
A developed trail will offer safe trail routes to area schools. This not only represents a benefit to the community, but it opens up opportunities for federal grants.
Communities become connected and history becomes alive.
Opportunities for walking, running, cycling, horseback riding -- all wheelchair and stroller accessible.
Increased property values for nearby homes and new businesses springing up along the trail.

The Rock Island Trail State Park will traverse 23 towns, providing a safe, non-motorized path to school, work, stores and restaurants within each town and from town to town.
Approximately 41% of all Missourians will live within 50 miles of the expanded trail network.
With the addition of the 144-mile Rock Island Trail State Park, Missouri is a national showcase for trails, with the largest network in the United States.
Investments in this campaign will help make Missouri a destination spot for outdoor enthusiasts from outside the state and help scale-up economic investments in rural areas of the State.
A University of Missouri Study - “Rock Island Trail Opportunity Analysis Infrastructure that Strengthens Communities” finds that the Rock Island Trail would have similar impact as the Katy Trail:
- 400,000 visitors annually
- $18.5 million economic impact
- 367 jobs
- $8.2 million in payroll
- Average visitor spends $45 per person
- Families/groups overnight spend $700 per trip