Open Space
The irregular terrain and native vegetation in Bend give the area a distinctive visual character and quality. These features limit views within the community, thereby creating a sense of a smaller urban area. Land in all parts of the urban area that has been vacant for decades is being developed. This development is changing the feel of the community from a rural town to an urban city. The expansion of development may reduce or change the open space and natural features that “break-up” the appearance of the man-made environment.
Open space is clearly a broad term that can apply to many types of undeveloped and improved land. Table 2-1 describes six types of “open space” that exist to a greater or lesser degree within the urban area.
|
Table |
Purpose |
Examples |
How to provide/conserve |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Natural areas |
• retain or restore natural landscape and vegetation • provide wildlife habitat |
• undeveloped park or public land • landscape areas left in natural state • PUD common areas • subdivision common areas |
o PUD development o flexible subdivision standards o commercial landscape standards o private or public land trust |
|
Large developed |
• active or passive recreation • places for gatherings |
• community and neighborhood parks, • school grounds, • PUD common areas, • golf courses |
o property tax revenues o user fees / SDCs o PUD requirements o private investment |
|
Small developed |
• areas for quiet enjoyment • relaxation or resting spot • visual break |
• ‘pocket parks’, • excess right-of-way, • planter in middle of cul-de-sac bulb, • subdivision entrance, • commercial plaza, • grounds around public utility facilities |
o require during development o property owners association o flexible subdivision standards o property tax measures o sensitive design and construction |
|
Corridor or linear |
• visual break • community appearance • design rhythm • pedestrian amenity • wildlife corridor |
• irrigation canals • developed trails • river canyon • pedestrian walkways • street planter strip and median strip |
o easements or dedications o setback regulations o transportation corridor designs o property tax revenues |
|
Perimeter |
• physical or visual break between uses • passive recreation • wildlife habitat / corridor |
• forest and BLM lands, • regional park land • subdivision buffer to protect wildlife |
o public acquisition or ownership o developer design o conservation easement |
|
Private spaces |
• passive or active recreation • relaxation and resting • wildlife habitat |
• house or multi-unit yards • private recreation facilities |
o private ownership o association dues o land trust purchase |
The list below is from the city’s inventory of open space lands held by both public and private parties within the Urban Growth Boundary. The inventory is based on tax parcel ownership, and therefore provides only a rough estimate since some trail corridors, Planned Unit Development (PUD) common areas, irrigation District easements, and golf course properties may not have distinct tax parcel numbers.
|
Public park and recreational facilities |
917 |
acres |
|
City, county and other public properties |
1,321 |
acres |
|
School district holdings |
524 |
acres |
|
Private open space and recreational sites |
1,537 |
acres |
|
Irrigation Districts |
178 |
acres |
|
Total Acres |
4,478 |
acres |
Although this number gives a rough estimate of total acreage, it does not describe the size, type, or land use that is currently considered as “open space.” The city and county will continue to monitor the creation and conversion of open space in the urban area, and evaluate or modify as necessary the open space designations on the Plan map. The types and amount of open space will be reviewed in future updates of the Plan.