McFerson, Katherine2014-09-112014-09-112014-06https://hdl.handle.net/1794/18234Examining committee: Rebecca Lewis, chair, Rob Zako, Jared MargoisProviding adequate open space is one of the most important and longstanding services a local government provides. A well-­‐connected and protected open space infrastructure does more than provide an aesthetic environment for development; it brings important sustainability benefits to the community. In Oregon, the Statewide Planning Program greatly influences general land use planning goals and open space management. Because these goals are so comprehensive, it was unclear whether a TBL framework would add to the process or create a duplicative administrative burden. This research was designed to evaluate whether TBL could be used as a framework for open space decision-­‐making in Oregon. This report analyzes the potential effectiveness of using a TBL decision-­‐making framework for open space infrastructure planning. The research question is: how can a local government such as “At some point, conservation objectives must be considered in relation to economic and social objectives, which may require trade-­‐offs and compromises.” – Porter 2008 2 Medford, Oregon use Triple Bottom Line Theory to effectively prioritize and protect lands for open space infrastructure provision?en-USCreative Commons BY-NC-ND 4.0-USTerminal Project