WHAT SHAPES HAS THE GEOGRAPHICAL LANDSCAPE OF DELAWARE AND MARYLAND?

Delmarva’s Changing Landscape

Progress Issues

Past: historical overview

Key concepts

Transportation allowed for suburbanization as it gave city residents a way to commute from the suburbs to their jobs in the city, thus permitting them the chance to live outside of the city limits.

Much suburban development is preceded by the construction of highways, allowing for businesses, neighborhoods, and strip malls to appear following and during its construction.

Key concepts continued

Suburban growth is one of the factors resulting in the encroachment of agricultural landholding throughout the Delmarva region.

Farmers take note of the effects of suburbanization including increased pollution, higher land prices, and even further development. (?)

Delaware has attempted to address the loss of open space with the implementation of the Open Space Program though it has not had much success in deciding its direction

Key concepts con.

In order to control the development of open space, the Maryland state government has implemented programs such as the Open Space Program and Project Smart Growth.

Despite the large trend towards suburbanization and development there are regions in both Delaware and Maryland that have remained noticeably less developed.

Objective: Analyze reasons behind development in different regions

Question: Why are some regions more developed then others How does transportation affect suburbanization?

Objective: Explain how development has impacted the community

Question: How does development affect the atmosphere of a community?

Objective: Discuss the programs each state has employed

Maryland: Legacy of Regulation Program Open Space Environmental Precedent 1970-1992 2020 Commission 1987 Economic Growth, Resource Protection and Planning Act 1992 Smart Growth 1997

Delaware: Lukewarm Regulation Refusal before the 1960s 1961: Delaware State Planning Office Neglect: 1977-1987 Gov. Castle and Quality of Life Legislation Gov. Carper and Delawarean-conscious planning

Objective: Analyze map data to interpret changes

Connection and Review

Objective: Evaluate arguments for and against development

Resources

Wal-Mart Interactive Map- projects.flowingdata.com/Wal-Mart/

Friends of Brandywine Springs- www.fobsde.org

Suburban Sprawl in Georgia- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1T2o8mRCOac

Lesson/Activity

Role- Students will take on the role of a Developer, Farmer, Conservationist, or Politician

Audience- The City Council Board

Format- Propose your argument to the council in a debate

Topic- Decide whether to preserve the open space next to the park as a wildlife habitat or develop it into a Wal-Mart Superstore

Connections

Why put this in a history course?

Why is it important to students?