Hilliard is on the “Path” to Sustainability and Good Health

As part of the “Parks and Open Spaces Master Plan” process, Hilliard residents were invited to participate in a survey touching on a broad array of topics related to how they use park facilities and what their priorities are in the future. The survey results yielded some very interesting information. When asked what facilities they “needed,” Hilliard residents selected “walking and bike trails” as their top choice. Among the many options, 88% of citizens selected trails and multi-use paths as something they have a need for; easily outpacing second place “picnic areas and shelters” selected by 70% of respondents. 71% of residents listed these paths in their top 4 most important facilities, well ahead of the second place finisher “outdoor pools/splash pad,” which was listed in the top 4 by 42% of citizens.

When it comes to the future, Hilliard residents are just as bullish on their desire for walking and bike trails as they are today. When asked about their support for future Parks and Recreation facility development, residents once again selected trails and multi-use paths as a top priority. When provided several options, 72% of residents were “very supportive” of the possibility to “develop additional walking and biking trails in the city and connect trails in the city.” This choice topped even “maintaining and enhancing existing parks” for which 64% of residents were “very supportive.”

The City of Hilliard already boasts an array of park facilities and trails to connect them. Along the Rails to Trails path, users can start at the very programmed downtown Hilliard Station Park (to be completed this fall), travel past the pastoral Homestead Park, and to the Heritage Trail Metropark which includes the Heritage Trail Dog Park. Several recent road improvement projects have included the addition of bike lanes or multi-use paths. Examples include Trueman Boulevard, Leap Road, and Alton-Darby Creek Road. With planned additional trails that will connect Municipal Pak to many neighborhoods in the city, extension of the Rails to Trails bikeway, and long term plans for paths that will extend out toward more the more distant Prairie Oaks Metropark, the City of Hilliard is taking seriously the desire of her residents to increase connectivity and provide travel options beyond the automobile.

The improved and expanded trail system will provide the opportunity for more residents to travel throughout the city in a safe and comfortable manner without having to get into their cars. When people choose alternative modes of transportation, it can have a positive environmental impact. Whether they choose to walk, jog, or bike, it is also a healthy choice! Based on the analysis of the Rec and Parks survey, it appears that residents agree that Hilliard is on the right “path” to good health and improved environmental sustainability.