Texas Needs More Public Use Space

Did you know that Texas ranks second to last in publicly available free open space. More and more land is being developed upon and greenspace to enjoy the great outdoors is becoming less prevalent. According to the US Bureau- Texas ranks 45th in the Nation for open space with only 4.2% of land available to the public for free and 95.8% is privately owned. One of the most difficult and at the same time most important aspects of land subdivision is the provision of public open spaces. It has long been agreed that accessible parks, playgrounds, and schools are as necessary to a good living environment as are proper densities and compatible land uses. Yet, hundreds of square miles of residential subdivisions containing no more open space than the minimum amount required in private yards are being developed every year in the United States.

So what can you do to ensure more public space is being considered or set aside?

Sustainable Trail Design

With the recent spike in trail users, developing sustainable trails is even more imperative to the longevity of our beloved outdoor environments. Increased traffic can mean accelerated erosion, which can be detrimental to the trail and even surrounding wildlife if the trail is not designed and built to handle the increasing levels of traffic.

A sustainable trail design should support current and anticipated user volume with minimal impact to natural and cultural resources, as well as the aesthetics of the area.

How Trails Improve Our Lives

“Trails consistently remain the number one community amenity sought by prospective homeowners,” according to the National Association of Homebuilders. With trails being such a big draw for potential residents, cities are challenged with a responsibility to appease their citizens and attract new ones. The development of trails improves community life in multiple ways…