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prominently on the City logo. These are physical landmarks but also important historical and cultural ones and essential to Eugene 's sense of place. Health and Fitness Benefits Regular trail use, whether walking, running, hiking, biking or paddling, plainly leads to improved health and fitness. But research has also documented psychological and cognitive improvements as a result of spending time outdoors. A recent statewide survey in Oregon found that walking, not surprisingly, was the most popula r everyday activity. Safe, interesting, and enjoyable tra i ls, especially close -to-home trails like we have in Eugene, encourage more frequent activity which leads to improved physical and emotional health, longer lives , and reduced overall health care costs . Recreation Benefits Trails encourage movement -walking, hiking, jogging, running, paddling, biking, rolling in wheelchairs, and sometimes even dancing! Trails being linear and making connections between places provides for increased variety of Runners on the Ridgeline Trail recreational experience. By connecting parks, picnic areas, schools, fields and open spaces, waterways, fishing areas, natural areas , and scenic viewpoints, they expose users firsthand to a wider variety of places, activities, and experiences than they might otherwise b,e aware of. And, by allowing access to our surrounding natural areas and systems, trails can provide increasingly rare and needed opportunities to experience and appreciate solitude, to restore ourselves, to refresh and create anew -the original meaning of recreation. Environmental Benefits Trails have always been an integral part of mankind's interaction with the natural world. They allow us to access, better understand, and manage our environment. In Eugene, trails have been an important component driving applications for grant funds to acquire natural areas. In addition to benefitting wildlife, these natural areas now make important contributions to our air and water quality. Many acquisitions have been along river and stream corridors for instance, preventing soil erosion and filtering runoff. Trails can also be useful as a tool for good conservation. They can be planned to assist in the preservation of important natural areas by directing and guiding traffic and by enabling better access for managing natural areas including response to wildfires and invasive species control. Trails allow for us to get outside into nature, and in doing that, they help foster appreciation and understanding for natural areas. Trails can help build an environmental ethic for continued conservation in our children and following generations. Page4 Eugene Trails Plan -2018