• 1950-1970 - RI development boom occurred, which led to large expanses of land being transformed into suburban house lots and commercial development.

• 1960's - Governor John H. Chafee initiated the "Green Acres Program." Using a combination of state bond monies and matching federal and local grants, Chafee raised $13 million towards purchase of land for open space preservation.

• Kingston, RI. October, 2000

• 1965 - Report on the Historic Points of Interest, Scenic View Areas, and Special Topographical Features of the State of Rhode Island - Statewide Planning Office - "the task of identifying, analyzing, and mapping such areas was undertaken. . . so that they could be more easily protected and preserved."

• 1980's - The character of RI land is changing fairly quickly, especially in subdivisions in rural areas, "obliterating former clear distinctions between rural, suburban, and urban landscapes." Improvements to roads make traveling through the state faster and easier and changes the way Rhode Islanders visually experience the landscape. Tangible elements of rural character are measured through strategic tourism resources, the economic value of agricultural lands, the open space needed to meet recreational demands (see Recreation), the need to protect groundwater resources and wildlife habitats (see Habitat)

• 1983 - Open Space Preservation in RI: An Inventory of Significant Sites, a landscape survey, is published.

• 1986-1991 - SCORP (see Recreation) redefines the loss of scenic vistas, roads, open spaces, farmlands, coastal areas, noted in the 1965 report. SCORP recommends a policy recognizing that RI's "scenic rural landscapes, roads, and vistas of NB are important cultural and economic resources." This is the first mention of the economic capacity of rural character. This report demands an update of 1965 report.

Black Point, Narragansett. Photograph by Richard Benjamin

• 1987 - Rhode Island General Law 42-17.1 is passed, commanding the Director of the DEM to establish and maintain a list or inventory of areas within the state worthy of special designation as "scenic." This leads directly to the creation of the Rhode Island Landscape Inventory.
• 1988 - RI General Assembly passed an act requiring all cities and towns to adopt community comprehensive plans by 1991, which would be an inventory of all the significant natural and cultural resources (air, water, and land-based), open space areas and recreational resources for each community.
• 1990 - Rhode Island Landscape Inventory (DEM Division of Planning and Development) is created.
• 2000 - A new survey is in the process of being created. Whiteman and Taintor Planning, Policy, and Development Consultants are working with the Scenic Byways Program to create the survey.

All above data derived from RI Landscape Inventory: A Survey of the State's Scenic Areas; State of Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, Division of Planning and Development, 1990.

Rural Character Main/Open Space Main/RI Indicators