What is Open Space in an Urban Area?

A number of recent events in Newport and neighboring communities have highlighted the fact that the very words “open space” mean different things to different people and connotes something entirely different than it did even ten years ago.

In partnership, the Newport Tree Society, the City of Newport, the Newport Tree and Open Space Commission, the Aquidneck Land Trust and the Aquidneck Island Planning Commission will present a lecture on Friday, September 19, 2014 at Jane Pickens at 6:30 PM to discuss what open space means in a densely populated urban area such as Newport. This event is open to the public. This forum event is also the celebratory kickoff to a two-year comprehensive planning effort for Newport’s parks and open spaces.

The speakers will be James F. Lima, President, James Lima Planning & Development, Ron Henderson FASLA, Professor of Landscape Architecture and Asian Studies at Penn State University, Grover Fugate, Executive Director, Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council, and Matthew Traucht, Project Manager, Cultural Landscape Foundation will come at this discussion from very different backgrounds and explore new thinking in open space protection and use, highlighting best practices in their disciplines and encouraging us to explore, imagine and think beyond the usual as we begin to plan for a better future for our city. Please RSVP at NEWPORTOPENSPACE.ORG.