Full marks for city officials for funding the bike trail from Brookside Park to Pioneer Park. This is a positive move for economic development and for the health of city residents.

Trail supporters tell us this has been a local wish since 1995. Joggers and walkers traversed the area enough to make footpaths, so it only made sense. Parents will be happy to see children biking around the lake without having to be in the streets as much. The trail will make walking, jogging and biking around Fountain Lake a whole lot easier and safer.

In the post-World War II era of America, recreation took a back seat in community planning. We had cars. We could drive everywhere. Recreation wasn&8217;t considered part of economic development, but transportation, taxes and available land were. Now, with younger generations placing quality of life higher in their priorities, recreation is a key part of economic development. If a city wants to attract companies &8212; with blue collar or white collar workers &8212; it needs to have amenities so those employees stay healthy.

If you wish to look up information on this heart-healthy trend in community planning, it is called &8220;new urbanism.&8221;

The new trail, named North Shore Trail on city planning documents, is a sign of a community headed in the right direction.