A recent statewide poll revealed that Pennsylvanians consider “green space” a key factor in deciding where to live. Green space edged out quality of schools, property taxes and distance to work as features considered in choosing a community. (See The First Pennsylvania Environmental Readiness for the 21st Century Survey Report, conducted by Roper Starch Worldwide, Inc. for the Pa. Center for Environmental Education.)

Local polls across Pennsylvania demonstrate over and over again that there is strong public support for open space conservation. For example, in 2003 The Tarrance Group surveyed registered likely voters in Montgomery County. When people were asked to consider various issues, 95% found “preserving open space and natural land areas to be important. Significantly, 80% found this issue to be extremely or very important. In comparison, 47% found “attracting new businesses to the area” to have this level of importance.

The Montgomery County results are not unusual. Public support for conservation in Pennsylvania is remarkably strong and consistent regardless of party registration and geographic region. It is also strong and consistent with urban, suburban and rural dwellers alike. (See Voter Support for a Dedicated Environmental Fund in Pennsylvania conducted by Susquehanna Polling & Research, Inc. for the Trust for Public Land, 2002.)

Voting patterns are consistent with these polling results. Visit Local Funding Initiatives.

(Many of the polls cited above can be found at the Printed Resource Gallery.)