Portland Trails Releases Landmark Economic & Community
Contribution Study
New analysis shows Portland’s 100-mile trail network generates over $112
million in annual local economic activity, eliminates more than one million
car trips per year, and delivers millions in health, environmental, and
property value benefits.
PORTLAND, MAINE — Dec. 4, 2025 — Portland Trails has released its Economic &
Community Contribution Study, the most comprehensive analysis ever conducted on
the value of Greater Portland’s trail network. The findings confirm what residents,
businesses, employers, and commuters experience every day: Portland’s trails are a
powerful economic engine, a critical transportation system, and one of the
region’s most important quality-of-life assets.
The study was made possible through a grant from the U.S. Economic Development
Administration, awarded through the Maine Office of Outdoor Recreation, and
conducted by Camoin Associates, in partnership with Portland Trails staff and experts
from the University of Southern Maine.
As the organization approaches 35 years of building and maintaining Portland’s trail
network, Portland Trails identified a need to quantify the real economic, social, and
environmental benefits that residents and visitors experience every day. The findings
provide crucial information to guide future funding, transportation planning, and
investment in outdoor infrastructure.
“Understanding the economic and other community impacts of trails is critical to better
trail maintenance, capital investments, and assurances we are meeting the expectations
of as many trail users as possible,” said Jon Kachmar, Executive Director of Portland
Trails. “This analysis provides us with invaluable information that will guide our work as
we move forward connecting neighborhoods and the Greater Portland region via trails.”
Key Highlights from the Study:
A Major Economic Driver
Portland Trails sees 1.375 million annual visits across its 100-mile network (p. 3).
Trail-related spending supports 921 jobs, $42.4 million in earnings, and $112.8
million in annual local sales in Greater Portland (p. 3).
Statewide, that grows to 1,215 jobs, $53.9 million in earnings, and $141.6 million
in total sales (p. 3).
Each mile of trail generates millions in annual economic benefit (p. 9).
A Transportation System Reducing Car Dependence
23% of trail users commute on the trails weekly (p. 3).
The network eliminates 1.1 million car trips and 4.8 million vehicle miles traveled
each year (p. 3).
Reduced congestion and emissions create $700,000 in annual congestion
savings and $550,000 in avoided CO₂ emissions (p. 3).
Community Health Benefits
Trails generate approximately $1.2 million in annual healthcare savings through
improved access to physical activity (p. 3).
37% of users cite exercise or physical health and 16% cite mental health or
stress reduction as their primary reason for using the trails (p. 17).
Environmental and Climate Resilience
Portland Trails provides an estimated $2–5 million in annual ecosystem services,
including reduced heat island effect, improved air quality, carbon sequestration,
and flood mitigation (p. 3, pp. 18–21).
Strengthening Neighborhoods & Property Values
Proximity to trails is associated with approximately $290 million in enhanced
residential property value, generating over $4 million annually in property tax
revenue for the City of Portland (p. 3).
To capture the full scope of Portland Trails’ economic and community impact, the
research team employed a multi-faceted, data-rich methodology, including in-depth
interviews, surveys, and trail counter data.
The findings underscore that Portland Trails is a regional infrastructure partner
supporting transportation, economic development, climate resilience, and community
health.
As Portland grows, the need for safe, accessible, and connected routes for walking,
biking, and rolling will continue to increase. This study offers a roadmap for
strengthening and expanding a trail network that already touches every neighborhood in
Portland and improves life for tens of thousands of residents across the region.
About Portland Trails
Founded in 1991, Portland Trails’ mission is to create connections between neighbors,
communities, and the natural world. The organization builds, maintains, and stewards a
100-mile network of trails and active transportation routes that connect neighborhoods
to nature, workplaces, schools, parks, and commercial centers across Greater Portland.
Learn more at www.trails.org.