THE PRIVATE VALUE OF PUBLIC OPEN SPACE WITHIN SUBDIVISIONS

Since the early 1900's when internal open spaces became common feature s of English new towns and American subdivisions patterned after Radbu rn, planners have assumed that internal parks are desirable features i n subdivision planning. However, developers in the United States have in general failed to include open spaces within new subdivisions, thus raising questions about their real economic benefits. This paper exam ines those benefits within the context of a Radburn-style subdivision in Dallas. Using survey and sales data, the results indicate that home owners value the open space - both those who live directly on the inte rnal greenbelts and those who do not. However, where the open space ca uses a reduction in private backyard space, homeowners do not appear t o value public open space as highly as private space.