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Comprehensive Plan Recreation and Open Space Element Recreation facilities, however, include more than facilities and parklands owned by a local government. The system also consists of state facilities, school facilities, privately -owned facilities, and facilities of other local governments. The existence and availability of these various types of facilities is unique to each community. With an inventory of those facilities in Indian River County, it is then possible to assess the county's recreation system and to determine present and future needs. Open Space Open space can be defined as those areas in the community which are not occupied by buildings, structures, or impervious surfaces. As with recreational facilities, open space can be classified into several categories, depending upon its type and function. Together, those categories of open space comprise the overall open space system in the county and to a great extent determine the character and aesthetics of the county. Identifying the components of the open space system generally provides the basis for inventorying and classifying open space areas in Indian River County. That is the function of the Existing Conditions Section of this element. This inventory can then be used in conjunction with applicable standards to determine the county's need for open space at present and in the future. Overall, open space can be divided into three general categories. These are: pastoral open space, utilitarian open space, and corridor open space. Pastoral open space can be defined as natural resource conserving or recreation open space. Resource based parks and conservation areas are considered pastoral open space. As its name implies, utilitarian open space consists of open areas used for a specific purpose. Examples include stormwater management areas, agricultural areas, pastureland, mining areas, aquifer protection areas, and other comparable sites. Corridor open space is similar to utilitarian open space in that corridor open space also serves another function or use. Usually linear in form, corridor open space consists of those areas used principally as utility or transportation corridors. These can be rights-of-way or easements supporting roadways, pipelines, transmission lines, drainage ditches, or other similar facilities. Like recreation, the open space system is a combination of government and privately owned sites. Each provides open space benefits to the community. For current privately owned open space sites to be considered as sources of open space for the future, however, preservation commitments must be established for those sites. The Existing Conditions Section identifies and inventories existing open space in Indian River County. Past Policies The existing recreation and open space conditions in a community are primarily a result of the specific policies followed and actions taken by the community in the past. Because of the interrelationship of state, national, and private recreation and open space systems with the local system, local policies are not the only determinant of local recreation and open space conditions; however, local actions are the principal reason for the existing characteristics of the local system. Community Development Department Indian River County 4