Open Space for Land and People

February 23, 2007

The City of Little Rock is interested in determining support for an "Open Space Policy". A Mayor appointed task force chaired by John Riggs, IV developed a draft (see related link) listing the value and scope of an open space policy for Little Rock. Now, per City Manager's request, the Little Rock Parks and Recreation Commission is holding several public forums to seek input for a direction on managing open space. At the conclusion of these, Little Rock Parks and Recreation Commission will make recommendations to the City of Little Rock Board of Directors for adoption.

For many, the concept of what constitutes open space, why it is important, and how it can serve us and future generations is vague and unclear. . It will be through this document, public forums, media, and other forms of communication that answers will be developed to these questions. The process is expected to take six to eight months.

TO GET THE DISCUSSION STARTED…

To begin the dialogue of what open space is, it is a function of land for the use and enjoyment of people. It has to do with both livability and sustainability. Under the guiding principle of private property rights, the history of America's use of the land turned from survival to making money. More specifically, the use of open space is principally driven by market forces that serve land owners' interests and secondarily the interests of the community.

This coupled with the emergence of technology, population growth and self-interest is beginning to show indicators of dysfunctional growth. Indicators are flooding and erosion, stream and air pollution, blight and disinvestment, hills leveled and streams channelized, forest fragmentation and reduction of biological diversity. With laws of its own, open space is an organic system that is pressed into society's desire with little awareness of the consequences of our choices.

What is becoming evident is we are missing the multitude of benefits provided by open space in addressing these and other indicators of dysfunctional growth. Next time you are traveling through the city, interpret what you read in the land. Is the development of our city satisfying your basic needs? Is this what you want to leave for the next generation? How long can we continue to develop our city as we do today before we find we have run out of room?

Where we can be tomorrow with open space is dependent on what we want that dialogue to be with the land. Is biological diversity, free natural cycles, aesthetics, spiritual, healthy and self-sustaining environments for us and future generations important to us? Should we treat the land with humility, reverence, mystery, wonder and awe?

Do we let economy create the environment or do we let the environment create the economy?

If we want to let environment create the economy; then ask ourselves if we have an obligation; if so…

Please feel free to send us your recommendations and join the blog for discussion of this important issue.

Open Space Policy Blog