Linear parks, frequently developed on abandoned railroad lines, have b
ecome a common type of recreation site. Adjacent landowners often expr
ess strong concerns about proposed linear parks. However, it has been
suggested that these concerns are usually misplaced and once the park
is actually developed they disappear. Survey data from a sample of lan
downers along the Missouri River State Trail in central Missouri are a
nalyzed and the results suggest that landowners along potential sites
probably have exaggerated fears which diminish once the park is establ
ished.