Visual Quality Best Practices
Rotegard LM, Johnson GW, Taylor KA, Meyer ME. 2025. Visual Quality Best Practices. National Park Service. Lakewood, Colorado
The Visual Quality Best Practices document, developed by the National Park Service (NPS), provides a comprehensive collection of 35 actionable recommendations for park projects that enhance visual quality. These best practices were informed by years of experience from landscape architects, engineers, and project professionals, offer practical solutions for improving visual quality and safeguarding valued scenery. The document includes a Project Planning Questionnaire to help identify applicable best practices for different types of park projects. Covering six key categories—site selection, viewing experience, design, plants, surface colors/materials, and signage/lighting—these best practices are aimed at fostering a positive visitor experience and strengthening stewardship among park staff. The resource is intended as a dynamic tool that parks can adapt and build upon to elevate visual quality and conserve the scenic values that are central to the National Park Service's mission.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Rotegard, Laura; Johnson, Gary; Taylor, Ksienya; Meyer, Mark
- Date of Issue
- 2025-04
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Keywords
- best practices, landscape architecture, National Park Service, NPS, scenic views, views, visual quality, visual resource management, visual resources