1. Closest Trail to Downtown
Connecting Multi-Use Trails to New Hampshire Downtowns: Insights about the Built Environment through the Quantification of a Downtown Trails Matrix
Samantha Powers, Dalrymple Fellow, Department of Recreation Management & Policy
Shannon Rogers, Ph.D., UNH Cooperative Extension, Community & Economic Development
Background
Walkability
Mapping Trail geography (Cont.)
Many NH towns and cities have traditional downtowns at varying levels of economic vibrancy. Many of these towns and cities also have trails in close proximity to the downtowns. Trails are an important resource in NH because they provide a variety of social, economic, and health benefits for local communities. Multi-use trails may cater to community residents or serve as an attraction for visitors. There is opportunity within economic development and trail management to leverage the physical location of trails as it relates to the placement of businesses and downtown areas within the community with the overarching goal of economic stimulation. The purpose of this project was to examine definitions of “downtowns” and “trails” and to determine the elements most necessary for connecting trails with downtowns in the state of New Hampshire. The Community and Economic Development Department of UNH Cooperative Extension examined ten pilot towns in the Seacoast region. Each town met pre-qualifying conditions including having one or more mapped trails and having some type of defined downtown area.
The extent to which an area is accessible by foot
Accounts for amenities such as sidewalks, crosswalks, proximity of businesses, etc.3
Durham, NH: Traditional Downtown with Removed Trails
Walker’s Paradise
90-100
Daily errands do not require a car
Very Walkable
70-89
Most errands can be accomplished on foot
Somewhat Walkable
50-69
Some errands can be accomplished on foot
Mostly Car Dependent
25-49
Most errands require a car
Car Dependent
0-24
Almost all errands require a car
Defining Downtowns & Trails
Raymond NH: Atypical Downtown with Internal Trail
NH downtowns vary by feel, walkability, and economic vibrancy3,4,5
Within this study, downtowns were classified according to this spectrum
Elements For success-Based on Literature1,2
Trail Geography
Internal: Passes through main downtown/business area2
Adjacent: Passes through outskirts or edges of business district2
Removed: Up to 2 miles from downtown entrance2
External: Over 2 miles from downtown entrance
Pilot Town
Town Center Walk Score
Downtown Type
Closest Trail to Downtown
Brentwood 23
Atypical
Internal
Dover 88
Traditional
Durham 83
Removed
Exeter
External
Farmington 45
Newmarket 73
Adjacent
Portsmouth 92
Raymond 27
Rochester 70
Moderate
Sandown 31
Downtown Trails Matrix
Atypical
Moderate
Traditional
Internal
Sandown, Brentwood, Raymond
Rochester
Dover, Portsmouth
Adjacent
Newmarket
Removed <2mi
Farmington
Durham
External >2mi
Exeter
Mapping Trail geography
Recommendations1,2,4,5
Newmarket, NH: Traditional Downtown with Adjacent Trail
Internal: Walkable amenities including businesses that sell both soft services and hard goods, crosswalks, sidewalks, bike racks at trailhead and within town
Adjacent: Signage at trailhead displaying distance (i.e. 2 blocks, 800 steps), walkable amenities similar to internal trails
Removed: Signage at trailheads displaying distance to and amenities one can find downtown; parking in town or at businesses
External: Signage and parking similar to removed trails; should be significant draw to get people downtown; at this distance, there often must be a significant business or cultural resource to draw visitors
Central Downtown
Central Downtown
Assessing the built environment
Data collection in 10 Seacoast Communities
Walkability3,4
Trail Geography2 (GIS Mapping & Aerial Photography)
Adjacent Trailhead & Park
Adjacent Trailhead & Park
1Robertson, K. (2004) The Main Street approach to downtown development: an examination of the fourpoint program, Journal of Architectural and Planning Research, 21(1), pp. 55–73.
2Allegheny Trail Alliance, Trail Towns: Capturing Trail Based Tourism, A Guide for Communities in Pennsylvania
3Walkscore Methodology, Walkscore.com
4Marshall, J. D., Brauer, M., & Frank, L. D. (2009). Healthy neighborhoods: walkability and air pollution. Environmental health perspectives, 117(11), 1752.
5Porta, S. et al. (2012). Street Centrality and the Location of Economic Activities in Barcelona. Urban Studies