In this paper, we review the now quite extensive economics literature on the value of open space.3 Because many of the services provided by open space—recreation, aesthetics, ecosystem services, and so forth—are not directly traded in private markets, estimating the benefits they provide can be difficult. Economists have used a variety of techniques for valuing nonmarket goods. For purposes of valuing open space, most studies rely on the hedonic property value approach and contingent choice or valuation techniques. We do not include studies that use a travel cost methodology to measure the recreation benefits of natural resource areas and are not aware of any that use the travel cost approach to look at urban and suburban parks. In addition, we do not review in depth the interesting, recent literature that uses calibration of spatial general equilibrium models of urban areas to derive the value of public goods, including open space amenities, and examines the effect of open space on urban spatial structure