The Regional Open Space Strategy

Project Title: Central Puget Sound Regional Open Space Strategy
Landscape Architect: Nancy D. Rottle, FASLA/ UW Green Futures Lab
Category: Category V - Analysis and Planning
Location: Seattle, WA
Description: Seven people per hour make the Puget Sound region their new home, with this population explosion impacting biodiversity, social equity, and human health. Compounded by the challenges of climate change and uneven economic development, it has become urgent to coordinate efforts across the hundreds of jurisdictions and non-profit organizations to protect, enhance and connect a regional open space network accessible to all. The Regional Open Space Strategy (ROSS) is a multi-scale planning effort established to address this need. The project 1) brought together local governmental and NGO leaders to envision a robust, connected green infrastructure system from urban to wild; 2) analyzed the ecosystem services provided by the region's open spaces; and 3) identified priority, multi-benefit projects at watershed and regional scales. The ROSS team also developed planning tools to account for the value of open space; and catalyzed governance, finance and advocacy mechanisms to implement the regional vision.

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