The biggest problem with the open space myth is its limited definition of open space. Suburbanites consider their large yards to be an important component of open space. These open spaces are probably used by recreationists more often than public parks are, and they are certainly used more than private farms and forests. Most smart-growth advocates count private farms as open space but deny that private yards are open space. So they advocate conserving farms but want to shrink people's yards.
Most people favor the public purchase of more parks and other open spaces.
But they support such purchases as a way of reducing population densities and the problems associated with density, including traffic congestion and air pollution. The infrastructure myth Sprawl opponents claim that urban services cost more in low-density suburbs. Helen Ladd, of Duke University, looked at real-world data to find out if this is true. The subsidy myth A new house pays less in taxes than it consumes in urban services. But this doesn't mean newcomers are subsidized by existing residents.