Public Support For Open Space Varied

"The survey found that voters are more likely to support creating new open space when it will be used for neighborhood parks, playgrounds, playing fields and walking trails rather than golf courses. Though three out of four voters would like their local governments to buy land to create new open space in their communities, most oppose increasing their property taxes by more than $50 a year to pay the cost of acquiring land. In areas under pressure by development, the survey found that more than 80 percent of voters support preserving farmland, natural areas, stream corridors, true wilderness areas and historic sites, but only 58 percent support preserving fallow fields no longer used for farming."