Open Space: Its Use and Preservation

Excerpts from the report Introduction: The loss of our open space to urban and related uses is substantial. Each year, the amount of land converted to intensive urban uses is greater than the total acreage of the State of Rhode Island. Once large open spaces are absorbed for other purposes, it is likely that few--except for the relatively small proportion kept in such uses as parks and recreation areas--will be returned to open space. Despite the growing interest at Federal, State, and local levels in questions of open space, there is still little agreement on certain aspects of the subject. For one thing, open space has no generally accepted, clear definition. Also, answers are needed to such fundamental questions as: Why have open space at all? What purposes should open space serve? What are appropriate methods for retaining open space? The focus of this paper will be on these questions. The answers are basic to rational decisionmaking about which lands to retain in open-space uses.