Open space is any undeveloped or predominantly undeveloped land, including waterways, in and around an urban area. There are both public and private open spaces. For example, meadows, forests, hilltops, orchards, farms, and marshes are all open spaces. Parks, too, may be open spaces in some cases, where they include one or more of these features.
Open space benefits our community in many ways.
It offers opportunities for recreation. It adds beauty and pleasure, and gives relief from the hard surfaces of the city landscape. Much of the open space around Corvallis may become part of the city someday. It will be developed for shops, offices, industries, and homes to accommodate our growing population. It's important for us to think about whether we want any of today's open spaces to remain in their undeveloped state as the community grows.