View CEDAR: The Methodology Behind Green Space Design
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The green space design process is based on an easily understood approach. This approach, known as "CEDAR," helps a community understand, locate and evaluate its open spaces. CEDAR is an acronym which represents the main categories of open spaces commonly found in communities: cultural, ecological, developmental, agricultural and recreational.

The CEDAR approach allows a community to understand, locate and evaluate its unique open spaces in terms of cultural, ecological, developmental, agricultural and recreational (CEDAR) characteristics. An inclusive method to land assessment, the CEDAR approach truly addresses all types of open space, because every open space falls within one or more of the CEDAR categories. When a community determines which of its open spaces are important for cultural, ecological, developmental, agricultural and recreational reasons, a community gains valuable insight into the legacy it wants to preserve for future generations.

Dozens of specific types of open spaces fall within the cultural, ecological, developmental, agricultural and recreational (CEDAR) categories of open space mentioned above. For example, ecological open spaces include slopes, water quality, drainages, geological features, wildlife habitat, vegetation, and ecological corridors. The chart illustrates types of open spaces that are commonly found in a community, particularly along its growing fringes. A particular community may exhibit all or some of these open space types, and some communities may want to add or further define open space types listed under the general headings represented by the CEDAR acronym.

Cultural/Historical

Every community has cultural and historical sites that its citizens deem worthy of preservation. From an old farmhouse just outside of town to a proposed urban plaza, communities’ members often have sights they would like to preserve or spaces they want to set aside for future cultural activities. Setting such sites aside as cultural/historical components of a community’s Green space design network keeps significant sites alive for generations and accommodates the cultural desires of the future.

Cultural resources also include viewsheds and viewpoints — visual treasures that are rarely accommodated in conventional planning processes.

Ecological /Environmental

Green space design can give permanent protection to areas that are environmentally sensitive or hold stores of natural resources. These areas may include wetlands, areas with rich mineral and water reserves, riparian areas, streams and riverbeds, wildlife habitat, and lands with steep slopes, unstable soils or other unbuildable characteristics.

As communities strive for sustainability, ecological elements become increasingly important. A highly functional ecological system is a basic requirement of sustainability.

Developmental

Green spaces that are designed into residential, commercial, and industrial developments provide important islands of respite from wall-to-wall buildings and paved surfaces. Most types of real estate development can and should exist in harmony with adjacent green spaces. In fact, preserving significant portions of land as green space can actually enhance the economic value of a development.

Green space designers analyze past and present development patterns in order to knit their design into the existing fabric of development. Design team members also search for overlooked green spaces that may not be part of the public realm, but could be. Throughout the process, designers respect private property rights while identifying conservation areas and parcels that should be purchased for green space needs. By using the green space design process, designers can coordinate both private and public interest groups in the preservation of green space, maximizing the overall community effort. Sites can be designated and prioritized as being prime for transfer of development rights (TDRs), limited development (LD), and private sector joint planning projects. The ability to designate and prioritize land for future preservation efforts is a benefit of completing a green space design.

Agricultural

Today, people value the remaining farms and ranches in their communities for the open spaces they provide. Aside from providing open spaces, the livestock and food that are produced on these lands represent substantial economic value. Even though these lands are neither untouched nor pristine, they are still far more open than subdivisions and other types of development, providing uncluttered views and a sense of connection to the land.

Recreational

Recreational open spaces include existing and proposed spaces reserved for passive (i.e. hiking, biking, jogging) and active (i.e. baseball, soccer) recreational purposes. Any land that supports recreational activity — from highly developed sports fields to undeveloped hiking lands — is included in this green space category.

During the green space design process, desirable levels of service are projected into future growth areas identified in the green space design. As growth occurs and green spaces are generated commensurately, developers and governmental jurisdictions can provide raw ground for future recreational facilities. Having produced the recreational resource maps years in advance, the jurisdiction can be very opportunistic, minimizing the expense of the land.

Corridors

The cultural, ecological, developmental, agricultural and recreational (CEDAR) elements in a community can be thought of as jewels in a necklace — jewels which must not only be identified and preserved, but must also be linked. Connecting corridors, often called "greenways," complete the necklace. They are critical to a true green space design, which is an interlinked system of open spaces and connecting corridors in and around a community that has been legally and permanently preserved. Without the element of connectivity, open spaces are merely a series of unrelated open lands rather than an integrated, interconnected system. Once the connections are made and permanently preserved, a community has actualized a green space design.

Corridors typically make excellent walking, hiking, biking and running paths, as well as wildlife thruways. They allow people to move from one green space to another without leaving the network and should provide community members with convenient access to open land.

Idea

The icons within the CEDAR chart are particularly useful during public meetings. Citizens can help locate important open spaces in their communities by affixing the appropriate icons to large community maps. For instance, a resident concerned about preserving a favorite trail could place a "trail" icon on the map, identifying the location of this important community amenity.