| Although concern has been expressed about the conservation of open space in growing places by land use planners, landscape architects, and others since the 1960s, limited research has been done on the attitudes of residents and leaders towards open space conservation in a rapidly growing region. Theories of democratic government suggest that for action to occur there must be a congruence of attitudes between residents and leaders on important issues. Thus, when considering adequate and efficient conservation of open space, three questions can be posed—is open space important to residents and leaders living in a growing place, is the level of importance for the two groups similar, and are the attitudes of the two groups congruent?; Analyses of primary data collected through key informant interviews and a multiple wave mail survey explored the importance of open space to residents and leaders in the growing Spring Creek Watershed of central Pennsylvania. Findings suggest that both residents and leaders considered open space important. Although residents' and leaders' attitudes towards open space were conditioned by different variables and experiences, they were congruent, with no substantive differences between the groups. Findings also supported local government's involvement in open space conservation, the negative impacts of ineffective and fractured planning and poor municipal cooperation in open space conservation, and the need for both increased organizational capacity and a strong citizen voice for meaningful open space conservation. |
