Do people value various types of potential openspace differently?

Analysis of potential openspace by type can be useful to openspace acquistion planners. Municipalities rely on matching funds and grants from organizations such as the RI Department of Environmental Management (eg. Agricultural Land Preservation Program), the US Fish and Wildlife Service (eg. National Coastal Wetland Conservation Program), and the US Forest Service (eg. Forest Legacy Program). Because different programs focus on particular types of openspace preservation, it is important for municipal planners to know which sites best fit various openspace funds.

The 23 survey sites were divided into 6 categories, based on type of site:

1. Coastal Salt Pond Sites - Sites that are located on either Ninigret or Quonochantaug Pond.
2. Water Sites - Sites that are primarily comprised of wetlands, ponds or rivers.
3. Quarry Sites - Sites that host quarries, either gravel or flooded limestone quarries.
4. Uncleared Landlocked Sites - Sites that are comprised of uncleared, often forested, landscapes. Many of these sites consist of views from roads.
5. Farm Sites - Sites that currently used or fallow farms. Specific uses range from pastured fields to equestrian stables.
6. Cleared Landlocked Sites - Sites that are cleared, partially developed and do not host a lage amount of unmanaged vegetation.

Interpreting the Graphs

The following three graphs present findings for the three valuation questions, asked for each survey site. Sites are grouped by type, and are color gradient coded. A list at the left side of this page shows the sites, categorized as they appear in each graph. Sites receive a scaled, weighted score for each valuation question.

Findings and Conclusions

• Coastal Salt Pond Sites and Water Sites consistently rank higher than all other types. There is little variance of valuation within Coastal Salt Pond Sites. Cross Mills Pond is the most valued, laterally among Water Sites. The strong preference for sites around salt ponds and water suggests that openspace preservation efforts ought to focus on funds that are specifically geared toward preserving these types of openspaces.
  
  
• Quarry Sites and Cleared Landlocked Sites are not highly valued. However, variance of valuation within these types supports a conclusion that respondents do not consistently preceive or categorically value these sites.
  
  
• Uncleared Landlocked Sites are moderately to lowly valued by type. Views from Kings Factory Road consistently ranks highest within its group. If Charlestown wishes to pursue scenic byway designations as a means to preserve openspace, this site appears to be the best candidate for such a strategic management option.
  
  
• Farm Sites are moderately valued. The farms on Old Post Road and Shumankanuc Hill Road consistently rank highest within their group. Because RI DEM channels significant funding toward preserving farmland, these two sites may be good candidates for such acquisition funds.