December 2016 - Parks & Recreation - 19

that it made exercising easier and more enjoyable, allowed them to get more exercise
and made them feel healthier than before
they started using the trail. Additional interviews further explored the connection between socializing on the trail and attitudes
toward health, intentionally focusing on
women. Fourteen people, including three
men, were interviewed about their health
and whether it had changed since they started using the trail, as well as about how and
why they use the trail with others.
The interviews confirmed that for these
men and women, there is a connection
between physical activity, socializing on
the trail and better health. Eight (all women) out of the 14 reported being in better
health than they were two years prior, and
all of them credited the GreenBelt as aiding
in that transition. All of the interviewees,
whatever their report about their health,
said that socializing was an important part
of their GreenBelt experience.
These conversations indicate that the
GreenBelt supports social relationships in
a variety of ways, ranging from sustaining
already existing relationships to fostering
new connections and a sense of community among fellow trail users.
Access and Safety
The connection between physical activity, human relationships and health, in this
case, requires an explicit acknowledgement
of the GreenBelt's role. The trail facilitates
walking with friends, especially in a city
where the lack of sidewalks can make it a
challenge to walk anywhere at all and even
harder to walk side-by-side with other people. The GreenBelt is so inviting that a number of walking groups have formed to take
advantage of it, including several churchbased groups that have developed ministries
around gathering as a religious community
while walking or bicycling on the trail.
A couple caveats are worth noting:
Some people want to walk with partners
not only to socialize, but also to stay safe.

Older people and women of all ages view
a buddy as protection from assault, as
well as a lifesaver in case of an emergency
health event. Out of the 14 people interviewed, five stated that safety is an important motivation in exercising with others on the trail. One stated that because
of her concern for her safety, she would
be unlikely to exercise if she was by herself. Survey results showed 21 percent of
women considered the lack of a walking
partner as prohibitive of them using the
trail (compared to only 4 percent of men).
Also, the benefits of the trail may not be
equally shared by all demographics. Researchers found that the majority of GreenBelt users are white (86 percent), female (54
percent) and have an average household
income of between $50,000 and $75,000.
These numbers diverge from the population
of the county (which, according to the 2015
census, is about 72 percent white, 51 percent female and has a median household income of $45,000). This suggests that some
community members are having a harder
time accessing the health benefits of the
GreenBelt. Targeted interviews with both
users and nonusers suggested that time constraints, safe access to the trail and exercise
preferences influenced the lower numbers
of lower-income and minority trail users.
However, at the time of the survey, the trail
had not been completed through the lowest-income or more ethnically diverse areas,
so these numbers may change over time.
Conclusion and Recommendations
A common perception is that socializing,
while valuable for many reasons, is incidental to the health benefits of a park. This
study suggests, rather, that the opportunity
to be with other people on the trail actually contributes to better self-reported health
outcomes. Women reported a higher tendency to socialize on the trail and were
also more likely to report that they were
in a better state of health than before they
began using it. Qualitative interviews con-

firmed that men and women alike value
their time with other people on the trail
and give credit to the trail for helping them
on their journey to health.
This finding supports research in the
social sciences, which proposes that
strong relationships with other people
contribute to positive health outcomes.
This relationship can be playfully presented in the following way:
Common perception: Trails = (physical
activity = health) + socializing
Findings: Trails = (physical activity +
socializing) = health
The study's findings suggest that facilities
designed to promote socializing along trails
(such as pocket parks, playgrounds and
basketball courts) encourage community
building, with benefits not only for health,
but also for civic engagement. They also
suggest that the issue of safety is a concern
to be continuously revisited - implementing best practices in safe-space design and
monitoring is critical - and that encouraging trail use across lines of income and
ethnicity through targeted public education
and appropriate trail amenities will increase
a trail's health benefits.
The take-home message is that trails, and
parks in general, contribute to health in multiple ways. Trail experiences play a role in
combating stress and building strong community relationships, both critical elements
in our nation's public health.
Detailed references for this article are available at www.parksandrecreation.org/2016/
December/The-Health-Benefits-of-a-Bicycle-Pedestrian-Trail.
Lisa L. Gezon is a Professor of Anthropology and
Chair, Department of Anthropology at the
University of West Georgia (lgezon@westga.edu).
Emily McKendry-Smith is an Assistant Professor
of Sociology, Department of Sociology at the
University of West Georgia, (mckendr@westga.
edu). Anne Kristen Hunter is an Instructor,
Department of Sociology at the University of
West Georgia (ahunter@westga.edu).

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