If your project has an ample amount of surrounding site area, this may be a straightforward credit for you. This credit encourages projects to not only set aside open space, but to ensure that it’s accessible and promotes outdoor recreation for building users.

An asphalt playground, however, won’t cut it. Teams must dedicate a percentage of the open space to vegetation. There are plenty of great options for outdoor recreation that can help you achieve this credit, so get creative with your site.

What’s New in LEED v4

• LEED now includes a consistent open space requirement for all projects that is no longer correlated with an existing local zoning code.
• The credit now emphasizes both the quality as well as the quantity of open space.
• This credit has been modified to emphasize site biodiversity less and to encourage a physical connection to open space more (in SS Credit Site Development—Protect or Restore Habitat).