Classification of space in the environment
Public Open Space sign inSan Francisco (a terrace of a hotel, aprivately owned public space)Public open space is often referred to byurban planners andlandscape architects by the acronym 'POS'. Varied interpretations of the term are possible.
'Public' can mean:
- owned by a national or local government body
- owned by 'public' body (e.g. a not-for-profit organization) and held in trust for the public
- owned by a private individual or organization but made available for public use or available public access, seeprivately owned public space (POPS)
'Open' can mean:
- open for public access
- open for public recreation
- outdoors, i.e. not a space within a building
- vegetated
Depending on which of these definitions are adopted, any of the following could be called Public Open Space:[1]
