The Scenic View

The Blighted View

While many organizations work to beautify Missouri, including local garden clubs, historic preservation commissions, and other civic-minded groups, not one addresses the state's visual quality in an exclusive and comprehensive way. One which, through public education, persuasion, and the development of esthetic standards, preserves and enhances the scenic beauty of Missouri; an organization with the commitment and expertise to promote standards and programs that will help Missouri to reach its civic, environmental, and economic potential. Scenic Missouri exists to fill this roll and has outlined an ambitious plan to fulfill its mission.

Scenic Missouri's Board of Directors provides direction and guidance for the continued fulfillment of our mission. The board is made up of leaders and visionaries from across Missouri who donate their time and expertise to help this organization serve Missouri and its citizens.

Scenic Missouri Board of Directors

Scenic Missouri's work is focused in four areas:

Billboards

Scenic Missouri promotes highway beautification through good billboard control. Model ordinances for use by cities, towns and counties are provided. Technical assistance is provided and local advocacy groups are promoted to reduce the number of billboards and limit their size and height. A special effort is being made to limit new billboards in unzoned and unincorporated areas and at community gateways. Scenic Missouri promotes an expansion of alternative traveler information systems to replace billboards, particularly at community gateways and in scenic rural areas.

Scenic Byways

Scenic Missouri works to increase the number of designated Scenic Byways in the state by being a strong advocate on the Missouri Department of Transportation Scenic Byways Advisory Committee. It collaborates with highway design professionals and landscape historians to promote flexible highway design and encourage more scenic byway designation applications by private and public groups along targeted scenic byway corridors. Scenic Missouri encourages the preservation and planting of native vegetation along scenic byways and other heavily used roads.

Research

Scenic Missouri works to document the economic, social and cultural benefits of highway beautification, scenic byways and good community design. Public officials are encouraged to commission studies and appoint task forces to determine the impact of aesthetics on the economy and quality of life in Missouri and its localities. The results of this research will be communicated to the general public, elected officials and business and tourism groups.

Community Appearance

Scenic Missouri works with local communities to promote good community aesthetics. Technical assistance and information is provided regarding sign and billboard control, tree preservation, landscaping standards for commercial, office and industrial districts, regulation of communication towers and architectural design. Scenic Missouri’s Community Appearance Reference Center includes model ordinances, videos and technical bulletins.