The visual survey was used during the charrette process to identify the types of built forms that appeal to the community. This preference survey was taken by approximately 75 people. Groups of images were presented in six categories: town center, commercial center, housing, parks and open space, streets, and walkways.

Those who took the survey were asked to rank each photograph on a scale from -10 (liked the least) to +10 (liked the most). A rating of 0 indicates a neutral reaction to the photograph. The scores for each photograph were totaled and divided by the number of people who voted in each category to obtain an average score.

The purpose of the visual survey was to give the community a visual vocabulary based on examples from other areas that fit Maple Valley's vision. Those images that received the highest scores indicate the community's preferences for the types of shops, public buildings, streets, parks, walkways and houses that define Maple Valley's character.

As part of the children's charrette, approximately 20 children between the ages of 5-12 took the survey. The scores they gave to the images are indicated separately from the adults' scores. The comments from the children had a few common themes. They consistently preferred places that were brightly lit, with landscaping and shops that appeared as if they had something kid friendly inside. They selected images that looked like they had "something to do" or "lots of room to run around." The children did not like fences, dark places, or streets that appeared to be boring.

As Facilitated and Recorded by Walkable Communities, Inc.
Website Produced by WebTown Technologies.
E-mail comments to Gregory J. McCormick
       AICP, Director of Community Development.