This manual is a step-by-step guide that concerned volunteers can use to create an Open Space Action Plan. The Plan provides the information needed to negotiate with landowners, permitting authorities, and developers to preserve rapidly disappearing open space and limit sprawl. Unlike typical land use master plans, an Open Space Action Plan identifies specific and critical land parcels to be preserved for open space, so as to better manage the random incremental growth that often results from real estate development projects undertaken as market conditions, land availability, developer interests and regulatory opportunities dictate.