HomeMy WebLinkAboutValue of Open Space editsTown of Barnstable Open Space and Recreation Plan Edits (Page 41)
Open space protection is an important and multi-faceted community planning goal in Barnstable.
Protecting open space enhances community character by preserving scenic views, landscapes, and
vistas. It also provides opportunities for both passive and active recreation, such as trails, parks, and
fields.
Beyond community character and recreation, open space serves critical ecological functions. These
include groundwater recharge, stormwater management, pollution attenuation, erosion control, and
habitat for diverse species. If lost or degraded, these functions would be difficult and costly to replicate.
By providing these natural services, protected open space can reduce the need for expensive
infrastructure improvements. Open space protection also limits development in sensitive resource areas,
helping avoid environmental impacts. It also plays an important role in offsetting climate change by
absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, particularly in forests and salt marshes. In addition, it
strengthens the local economy by raising property values and improving quality of life, factors that help
attract visitors.
The Trust for Public Land’s analysis Parks Investment and Economic Vitality reveals that operations and
capital spending by public park agencies across the U.S. generated over $201 billion in economic activity,
supported about 1.1 million jobs, and boosted $63 billion in labor income in a single year (2021) These
findings highlight parks and open space not only as sources of direct public amenity value, but also as
strategic assets that cities invest in to attract and retain residents, talent, and businesses—helping
cultivate better quality of life and fiscal growth.
Another often-overlooked aspect of parks and open space is the role they place in public safety and
community trust-building. Well-designed and well-used parks can reduce crime by increasing “eyes on
the street,” a concept popularized by urbanist Jane Jacobs. When parks are activated with regular foot
traffic, programming, and maintenance, they become safer by design, discouraging illicit activities
through natural surveillance and community presence.
Research supported by the Trust for Public Land and various academic institutions has shown that
investments in parks—particularly in underserved neighborhoods—are linked to reductions in violent
crime. A study in Philadelphia found that greening vacant lots and improving park infrastructure led to
significant decreases in gun violence and vandalism in surrounding areas (Branas et al., 2018).
Furthermore, accessible parks promote positive youth engagement, offering alternatives to risky
behaviors and fostering a sense of belonging and shared stewardship. In this way, parks quietly but
effectively serve as tools for crime prevention, trauma reduction, and community stabilization.
From Setha Low’s book, Why Public Space Matters “even fleeting moments of visibility and encounter in
these spaces fosters a broader worldview and promotes a willingness to accept differences. These
experiences enhance flexible thinking, creativity and inclusiveness – these aspects enhance and
determine both social life and community identity.