In land-use and transit planning, informal or formal outdoor areas that are intended for use by the public for passive or active recreation. These areas can vary in size and may include, but are not limited to include, these elements: seating, landscaping, playground equipment, sports fields and water features. Community parks, urban parks and urban plazas are three types of public open space that may be located in, around or near rail transit stations.
Urban space, designated by the Council, defined where public access is generally not formally established, but which fulfils or is capable of fulfilling a recreational and/or non-recreational role (for example, amenity, ecological, educational, social or cultural). Includes most nature reserves, city farms, cemeteries, reservoirs (including covered reservoirs) and some private institutional and housing estate grounds which are not considered suitable for built development. Public open space does not include school playing fields nor the amenity areas associated with the development of homes or flats or pedestrian precincts (Local Government Act 1966 Section 8). The River Thames towpath to which the public have unrestricted access is also considered locally to be public open space.
Land provided in urban or rural areas for public recreation, though not necessarily publicly owned.
Open areas with any mixture of amenity, recreation (formal and informal), habitat and shelter value which the public can access. See Policy Hou\13.
Urban space, designated by a council, where public access may or may not be formally established, but which fulfils or can fulfil a recreational or non-recreational role (for example, amenity, ecological, educational, social or cultural usages).
General term including all space for formal and informal recreation activities with access generally open to the public, and usually in public ownership.
Public Open Space is often referred to by Urban planners and landscape architects by the acronym 'POS'. It has a meaning similar to public park, but varied interpretations of the term are possible.