Map shows open space in Portsmouth and its islands.
PORTSMOUTH — Aquidneck Island has about 13,623 acres of open space left and almost half of that land is located in Portsmouth.
Of that island open land, 31.7 percent is farmland, more than any other use.
These are among the findings of the “first comprehensive census of the island’s open space,” released Thursday by the Aquidneck Island Planning Commission (AIPC) .
With maps and data, the study analyzes the island’s store of parks, beaches, farms, ponds and reservoirs, playing fields, and other areas with little or no development.
“The existence of these areas is critical to the well-being of Aquidneck Island’s communities; they are vital for recreation, food production, and safe drinking water, and they are a key contributor to the island’s distinctive character,” said Tina Dolen, AIPC executive director. “By understanding what exists today, we can plan more effectively for the future.”
Other findings:
• Although the maps show Prudence and the other Portsmouth islands, summary totals only include land on Aquidneck Island. If Prudence and the other island are added to the mix, the open space total is 17,287 acres.
• There are 1,868 acres of land devoted to recreation on Aquidneck Island.
• 71 percent of the open space is privately owned.
• There are 3,855 acres of publicly owned open space on the island; the largest public land owner is the City of Newport.
• The bulk of the island’s farmland stretches roughly northwest from the Norman Bird Sanctuary in Middletown up into Portsmouth along both sides of East Main Road to the Glen.
• Close to 70 percent of the open space is zoned for residential use.
The report took a year to prepare and was assembled with help from a number organizations, agencies and planners. To view the report, visit www.aquidneckplanning.org/openspace.cfm.
The van Beuren Charitable Foundation provided financial support for the project.
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