Trail Benefits
Public Health
Trails help improve property values. Trails can be associated with higher property value, especially when a trail is designed to provide neighborhood access and maintain residents’ privacy. Trails, like good schools or low crime, create an amenity that commands a higher price for nearby homes. Trails are valued by those who live nearby as places to recreate, convenient opportunities for physical activity and improving health, and safe corridors for walking or cycling to work or school.
Trails help improve physical and mental health. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), studies show that physical activity reduces the risk of major health concerns, including strokes, type 2 diabetes, and some forms of cancer. The closeness of our ties to our neighbors, the strength of our personal relationships, and the resources present in our communities are also all related to health.
Rails converted to trails improve response times for emergency departments and increase safety for farm equipment by increasing the ease of navigation through areas with terrain that made it difficult otherwise.
Economy
The four counties along the Monon South currently have 2,167 people employed in the Hospitality and Tourism industry as of the second quarter of 2022. Employment in the field is 18 percent higher than the national average, and the development of the Monon South will provide more opportunities for new businesses to grow in the communities along the corridor. Business establishments have grown in number in the field over the past several years, even maintaining stability despite the pandemic’s impact.
Connecting Communities
Southern Indiana Trailways' Monon South Trail is joining the already established tourism industry in Southern Indiana, which includes a world-class resort and casino, National Parks, and so much more. Visit
Discover Southern Indiana, a regional tourism organization aimed at fostering a welcoming visitor experience within an eight-county region of south-central Indiana, to learn more about other recreational activities and attractions near the Monon South Trail.
