PUP 542: Environmental Planning
Camp Verde Trails
Outreach Project
Chapter 1: Introduction
and Background
Introduction
● Urban Upland Trails Project (UUTP)
○ Comprehensive trail plan for the Town of Camp Verde
○ Unite recreational and community pathways into a single network of
delineated, maintained, and branded trails
● Camp Verde Trails Public Outreach
○ Initial Kickoff Meeting and Site Visit on February 13, 2020
○ Public Meeting on February 27, 2020
○ Report and Presentation on April 30, 2020
Meet the Team
● Arizona State University - Students in the Master of Urban and Environmental
Planning program, Town of Camp Verde, and US Forest Service
Photo from the Initial Kickoff Meeting outside the Coconino National Forest Office.
Site Description
● Site encompassing the entire Town of Camp
Verde and USFS Coconino (CNF) and Prescott
National Forests (PNF)
Source: Google Earth
Background
● Camp Verde 2016 General Plan
○ Project aims to incorporate public involvement related to trail and
connectivity goals from the General Plan
● Coconino National Forest (CNF)
○ New 5-mile trail loop will be first trail on CNF land near Camp
Verde. Trailhead will start at the new Camp Verde Sports
Complex.
● Prescott National Forest
○ Previously planned construction of recreational infrastructure
○ Alignment of recreational goals has led to partnership with Town
of Camp Verde
Purpose of the Report
● To document the comments and feedback from the public
● To provide input on new trail connections, trailheads, and the future
trail system
● Supports the Town of Camp Verde 2016 General Plan:
○ To encourage opportunities for all stakeholder groups to express
their opinions through a public participation process
○ To use public input effectively as it is a crucial aspect of good
urban planning and decision-making processes
Need for the Project
● According to the Town of Camp Verde 2016 General Plan:
○ Encourage parks and a trail system that allow people to recreate at the
river and connect with other points of interest
○ Promote recreational, community, cultural activities and enhance
tourism
○ Design the pedestrian pathways and biking trail systems that connect
historic sites
○ Encourage open space along with developing trails and recreational
access points
○ Provide access to link parks, open space and neighborhoods, providing
for ease of movement and safety for multi-modal transportation
Need for the Project
● Lack of trails on Coconino National Forest near Camp Verde
● New trails will make a significant contribution to the Camp Verde
development and to the Camp Verde Trails Concept Plan by:
○ Improving community health by connecting the community with the
natural environment
○ Managing different user groups by providing a higher quality
experience
○ Fostering economic growth with new quality trail experience that can
attract visitors from other areas
● Investment in the new Camp Verde Sports Complex
Chapter 2: Kickoff Meeting
Camp Verde Trails Public Outreach Kickoff
Meeting - February 13, 2020
● Introduction- Town Camp Verde and ASU MUEP
students
○ Steve Ayers, Economic Development Director
○ Mike Marshall, Parks and Recreation Division
Manager
○ Jessica Bryson, Economic Development Specialist
● Camp Verde History Overview
● Historic Preservation-Farming Community
● Challenges - Financial resources
● Opportunities - nearby Forest Service land
● Town Character
● Urban Upland Trails Plan
● Water Preservation
Kickoff Meeting with the U.S. Forest Service
(USFS)
● U.S. Forest Service is an agency within the U.S.
Department of Agriculture
● Manages more than 150,000 miles of trails in U.S.
● Met with Coconino National Forest, Red Rock Ranger
District
● Class met with Chris Johansen, Recreation Program
Coordinator and Forrest Saville, Trails and OHV
Coordinator
● Connections to Camp Verde trails to create one trail
system
USFS Presentation and Meeting
● USFS presented on the role of their agency
and their job duties, USAjobs career portal
● Learned about how USFS partners with
Camp Verde, public advocates and
volunteers
● Discussed how CNF works with Camp Verde
on trail development
● Discussed upcoming public meeting
● Discussed trail development and
maintenance
Site Visit to the Verde River
● Class visited the Verde River and Rezzonico Park.
● Mike Marshall (Parks and Recreation Division Manager) talked about whether trail
signage and discussed the informational Verde River sign located at this
site.
Site Visit to the Verde River
● Class visited the Verde River along the river banks.
● Mike Marshall (Parks and Recreation Division Manager) talked about whether trail
signage and discussed the informational Verde River sign located at this
site.
Site Visit to the Future Camp Verde Sports
Complex
● Visited the Camp Verde Sports
Complex currently under construction
● At the moment, the site is a large area of
dirt that has been graded for soccer
fields and irrigation
● Mike Marshall talked about the project
and pointed out where different facilities
will be located
● The park will act as a trailhead and
connection to trails along the
surrounding nearby mountains
Chapter 3: Preparation for
Public Meeting
SURVEY
Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4
Pre - Survey Communication
Filter Survey Data Analysis
Development and data
-Tra il Development -Remove collection -Provide s urvey
Redunda ncies res ults
-Demogra phics -Survey
dis s emina tion
-expa nd on good -Survey Da ta
-Us er s pecifics ques tions
-Fa cilita te tra il pla n
VISIONING
● 4 different visual preference boards to collect information about the preferences of participants on
different possible design features-
○ Trail Amenities
○ Trail Infrastructure
○ Trail Signage
○ Trail Users and Experience
● For each visual preference board-
○ a wide variety of pictures were collected from internet searches.
● Decisions were made about-
○ what process would be used to conduct the visual preference survey at the public meeting.
MAPPING EXERCISES
● Prepared series of maps on laminated 28x40” posterboard
sheets
● Maps showed a variety of levels of detail (from broad
overview to narrow detailed aerial views with existing and
proposed trails)
● Class developed system for resident comments on maps
○ Expo marker and labeled stickers prepared for each resident
comment
○ Paper form with matching label from sticker drafted
● Developed GIS method for processing data, georeferencing
An example aerial overview image as produced for the
maps with comments from residents as feature classes mapping exercises at the public meeting (Source:
Google Maps, 2020)
MEETING MATERIALS
● One group was tasked with gathering materials needed for the meeting
● A materials list was created which outlined what materials would be
needed and in what quantity
● The team was also tasked with creating name tags for the ASU students
and town and USFS representatives for the public meeting
CONTACT LIST
● Developed a contact list
● List included representatives from the Town of Camp Verde, Coconino
National Forest, the Urban Upland Trails Advisory Group, Yavapai-
Apache Nation, Arizona State Parks staff, Arizona State Land
Department representatives, Bureau of Indian Affairs representatives,
and AZ Game and Fish Department.
● Other local stakeholders were identified as well as local hiking and other
facebook groups to be included in the outreach
GENERAL OUTREACH
● Flyer and General Outreach team created meeting
flyer and prepared an announcement for Facebook.
● Class prepared flyers to be mailed out to Camp
Verde organizations and public agencies
● The flyer with the survey link was mailed or emailed
to everyone on the contact list
● Relevant information about the meeting was also
shared with the local radio and newspapers.
Chapter 4: Public Meeting
Trails Outreach Public Meeting
Who: Residents of Camp Verde and
general public hosted by Arizona State
University, School of Geographical
Sciences and Urban Planning, Camp
Verde and USFS
What: Trails Public Meeting
When: Thursday, February 27, 2020
Where: Camp Verde Middle School
Cafeteria
Why: Public input for trail development in
Camp Verde and on nearby USFS lands
Introduction
● The meeting was facilitated by staff from the Town of Camp Verde, with assistance from students in
the Master of Urban and Environmental Planning program of Arizona State University.
● 57 members of the public attended the meeting to provide feedback on trail development
● Graduate students from ASU operated as support staff, helping to set up the meeting and welcome
stakeholders.
Public Meeting Process
● Steve Ayers, the Economic Development Director, opened the meeting with an introduction and
overview of the project.
● Subsequently, Michael Schwartz, a graduate student from ASU, discussed the trail plan he is
working on for the town
● Next, Eileen Baden, a faculty associate from ASU and instructor for the Environmental Planning
class, introduced the role of ASU in conjunction with Camp Verde and the process of the meeting.
● Following these explanations the meeting broke out into an open house format with four different
stations staffed by ASU graduate students.
Survey Station
● Survey station: Participants could fill out a
survey regarding their preferences about trail
development in their community.
● Students were there to help answer
questions about the survey.
● Survey was available online but paper
versions were at the meeting
Visioning Boards Station: Overview
How it worked: Every attendee was handed 3 red dots and 8 gold stars
when they checked in. There were four boards at this station, each
representing a different visioning category. Between the four categories,
each person chose the examples pertaining to each category that they liked
the least and placed a red dot on those photos, then chose the examples
they liked the most and place a gold star on those photos.
Visioning Boards Station Direct Feedback
Trail Amenities Trail Infrastructure
● “Would like to see fountains with bottle ● “Wheelchair access to trails is desired -
fillers” how will it be facilitated”
● “Preference for distinctive areas for ● “Did not like the cage on the photo of the
trash and recycling” hiking trail with the chain link fence”
Visioning Boards Station Direct Feedback
Trail Signage Trail Users and Experience
● “Wood signage isn’t practical unless ● “Many people seemed to like the more
posts are capped with metal” organic design for trails”
● “Interest in signage with information ● “Equestrian riders run into issues with
on it (wildlife, plants, etc) too” bikers and tour bus hikers on busy trails”
Map Commenting Station
How it worked: Set up around the room were various maps showing different parts of Camp Verde in which
trails could potentially be. If a person had a comment about a particular part of the map, they were given a
colored dot (with a number on it) to stick on the area they wanted to reference, and a comment card (with
the same number on it) where they wrote out their detailed comment.
Example comments:
● “Connector would be great for Clear Creek and Beaver Creek.”
● “Would like to see trail access from Rezzonico Park to the hiking trail”
● “1020 Area is rough and steep, not suitable in summer over 95°”
Feedback and Commentary Analysis
● Attendee comments
centered largely on:
○ Concerns related to
specific routes and
design of the trails
○ Feedback on the
outreach process
○ Trail design was an
important topic
Chapter 5: Survey Analysis
Question 1
How important is the current trail system to you? (1=least important,
5=most important)
Question 2
How satisfied are you with the current trail system regarding the
following topics?
Question 3
On average, how often do you use the current trail system?What
activities do you partake in when using the trails? Select all that apply.
Question 4
On average, what distance do you usually travel while on the trail
system?
Question 5
What activities do you partake in when using the trails? Select all
that apply.
Question 6
For what purpose do you use the current trail system? Select all that
apply
Question 7
What trails do you currently use the most?
Question 8
How long does it take you to travel to the trails you use the most?
Question 9
How do you get to the trails you use?
Question 10
Is there anything limiting you from being able to use the trail system
Question 11
What time of year do you use the trail system most?
Question 12
What days and times do you usually like to utilize the trail system?
● Weekends are the most
popular days overall
● Weekday mornings and
afternoons see similar use
patterns
● Weekend mornings are the
peak.
Question 13
What do you like about the trails in Camp Verde?
● Residents like that the trails are
quiet and usually not crowded
● Respondents said they
appreciated the good views, and
natural flora and fauna
● Other responses included: easy
trail access, diversity of trails,
and terrain/elevation changes
Question 14
How did you find out about the trails you use?
● Most people find out about trails
by word of mouth through friends
and family.
● Website and maps were less
popular
● Other responses included: social
media, social clubs, self-
exploration, National Forest
Service website, other nature-
related websites.
Question 15
Where would you like to see the new trail or trail connections and why?
Position Advocated
● Most were supportive, but about
20% of responses to this Supportive of new trails 32
question asked that trails not be No new trails 8
built
● 20 unique locations suggested Trail Route/Destination
from 43 responses Urban trail system 8
● Urban sites such as Rezzonico
Cottonwood 5
Park, Camp Verde Sports
Complex were most popular Verde River 4
West Clear Creek 4
Question 16
What other amenities would you like to see along trails or at trailheads?
Highest Priorities
(select your top 8 priorities)
Trail Markers 41
● Wayfinding aids were a popular
Trash Cans 39
theme
Signs/Maps 35
● Parking, trash receptacles,
restrooms also high priority Lowest Priorities
● Additional infrastructure was a low Improved Lighting 4
priority; lighting, workout/climbing, Climbing Structure 5
benches, tables, water fountains, Workout Stations 6
bike racks.
Question 17
What type of American Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible facilities would you
like to see and where are they needed?
Question 18
At what level of difficulty would you like new trails to be built?
Question 19
What type of trail surface would you prefer for urban, in-town trails?
Question 20
Are there any specific points of interest that stand out to you along
existing trails? Please be as descriptive as possible.
Question 21
Are there any areas you believe should be preserved and should not
have trails? If so, where?
● No new trails in the archaeological or ruin sites
● No new trails in the protected sites, adjacent to
the private property
● No new trails in anywhere with high cultural
significance to the Nations or where there is
limited/unique habitat for endangered species
● No new trails near the creek and river,
particularly the Verde River
Demographic Questions
Q25
Demographic Questions - Continued
Highlights:
● Generally residents
● Generally white respondents; 10%
Native American
● Even representation of men and women
● Most respondents 55+ and none below
18 years old
○ Under 24: 29.9% of population
○ Under 24: 1.49% of survey respondents
○ Over 55: 34.9% of population
○ Over 55: 59.7% of survey respondents
Using data from 2018 ACS Estimates.
Question 26 + 27
Q26 Would you like to
receive more information?
Yes - 45 answers
Left Email Address - 31 answers
Chapter 6: Next Steps
Summary:
● Outreach:
○ Sent letters to residents informing them about the public meeting
○ Held open forum for residents of Camp Verde to discuss their ideas
for new trail connections, trailheads, and the future trail system
design
● Obtained resident’s input:
○ Sign-in tables
○ Visual preference boards
○ Written surveys
○ In-person discussion
● Determined Resident’s Concerns:
○ The effects of the trails plan on homeowners and their properties.
■ Maintenance, Trash and dog waste, Accessibility needs and
aesthetics
○ Residents need more clarification
Summary
● Maps:
○ Produced engaging conversation
○ Better insight
○ Students used spatial analysis skills
● Active listening compared to reflective
response:
○ Better to listen than to react
○ Better data
Goals
There are several additional goals the plan may want to take into
consideration after hearing feedback from the community at this public
meeting.
GOALS:
● Continued awareness and inclusion of the public regarding possible
development of new trail segments
○ In the town of Camp Verde
○ On land owned by the U.S. Forest Service
● Comprehensive notification list accessible through the town’s listserv
● Thoughtful consideration of access points and accessibility options for
all
● Comprehensive view of user demographics
○ Walking / Running / Biking / Horses / River uses
● Incorporation of alternative graphics for orientation and site purposes
● Employment of interactive participation workshop techniques
Goals
● Enhance public participation
● Different meetings with different groups of particular
stakeholders
● Utilization of available technologies to reach
community members
● Timeliness in awareness and inclusion of the public to
help facilitate higher volume of public participation
● Appropriate eye-catching visuals aside from
preference boards
● Including a survey with information request forms for
joining trail groups
Best Practices
CONTINUING BEST PRACTICES:
● Consulting with the public, especially adjacent landowners for trail
projects
● Consulting with the trails technical advisory committee
● Consulting with local groups and organizations (ex. The Verde Front)
● Partnerships with the U.S. Forest Service
● Public participation that is:
○ Initiated early and sustained
○ Well planned and focused on negotiable issues
○ Supportive of participants
○ Tiered and optimized
○ Open and transparent
○ Context-oriented
○ Credible and rigorous
Recommendations
● Recommendation #1: Try to include requests for members
of the public to join the Urban-Upland Trails Group in future
correspondence
○ Only mentioned on the sign-in sheets
● Recommendation #2: Extend Public Outreach - work with
the Urban-Uplands Trails Group to include the public
○ Maintain public involvement in the trail development conversation
○ Continue use of modern technology:
■ Emails
■ Social Media
■ Online Advertisements
○ Increase word-of-mouth conversations that could reach residents
lacking access to technology
○ Make everyone feel like they have an equal opportunity to
participate
Key Point: Friends of the Urban-Upland Trails
Group to help Camp Verde Keep in Contact with
the Public
Friends of the Urban-Upland Trails
This program encourages local stewardship of the trail system.
Members can sign up to support the trails through keeping the areas
clean and performing basic maintenance.
5 people at the initial public meeting signed up
1 person was already a member
Interested in More Information on the Trail Projects
The survey included an option for people to receive more information
about the trail projects
33 people left their name or email address
Conclusion
Graduate students in the MUEP Program were
able to gain valuable experience from the public
outreach meeting, and allowed facilitators to gain
meaningful input into the decision-making process.
As MUEP students helped facilitate the public
outreach process and initiate the trail development
project for Camp Verde, it is within their hopes that
this document will serve the town and USFS
officials well in representing what types of trail
development the community wants to see and
what is representative of town values.
Thank you for this opportunity to participate in this
project!
