The role and potential of residential open space in a suburban green space network

As the climate changes, green spaces of all types will be increasingly important in maintaining livable and biodiverse communities. A type of green space common to suburban communities in the United States is residential open space. Residential open spaces tend to be small and heavily managed and are frequently undervalued and understudied as ecological amenities. This study uses GIS analysis and spatial statistics to explore the configuration of 1900 residential open spaces in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, a suburban county in the northeastern United States. It examines local characteristics such as open space policy, subdivision features, and socioeconomic status to identify variables that are associated with open space parcel size and connectivity and could be leveraged to foster a more beneficial configuration of metropolitan green space. The analysis finds that open space is moderately fragmented, but is abundant in the county and clustered, which could support functional connectivity. Direct connections also considerably augment the size of open spaces and other types of protected greenspaces. Results highlight that municipal actions like setting open space standards, using open space to protect riparian areas, and taking ownership of open space parcels are associated with beneficial on-the ground open space characteristics.