The potential of use
of the Chester Valley Trail by tourists should not be overlooked. The Chester Valley Trail, linking central Chester
County to Montgomery County and the commercial shopping hub of King of Prussia
to the Northeast, is in a unique position to draw outsiders into the Chester
County area.
This can impact the Chester
County economic environment in a number of ways: “By providing a trail that attracts residential and business
investment, local governments should be able to collect additional tax revenues
without making the difficult choice of raising tax rates. Furthermore, in an
area that has limited trails, like Chester County, trail implementation should
attract residents, businesses and trail users from outside the area. Trails can
provide an increase in the number of visitors that directly impacts the local
economies. The increase in visitors consequently increases the likelihood of
money spent in that location . . . . The attraction of people to an area
(potential customers) in turn increases the visibility of local businesses and
communities, allowing opportunities for businesses to sponsor events while
gaining business exposure.”*
*“Trails and Revitalization: A Study of the Economics Associated With
Public Trails” from a presentation by Robert J. Schoutens at the 2006 National
Trails Symposium in the Quad Cities of IA and IL
We have a lot to gain
from the potential economic effect of tourism into Chester County that is
generated by use of the Chester Valley Trail.