Public Involvement in Visual Assessment: The Verde River Corridor Study

Abstract

Visual assessment is generally viewed as a means to place aesthetic values on landscapes. Visual assessment can also be used as a way to involve the public in the planning of their communities. It may be seen as an educational device that can create greater visual awareness. This paper presents two examples of how local citizens were involved in a visual assessment. The stage is set for the visual assessment by introducing the Verde River Corridor Project, summarizing the significance of the region, and describing visual assessment processes. The application of an expert evaluation is reviewed as an example of visual assessment without citizen involvement. The two examples of the methods employed in the Verde Valley—public valuation and public nomination—are then provided. The paper concludes with a discussion of the prospects of using visual assessment as a means to engage the public in planning.