Urban and Regional Planning graduate students will partner with the City of Ottumwa to create a developent plan for the Ottumwa Regional Airport Growth Area. 

URP graduate students will partner with the City of Ottumwa to create a comprehensive downtown master plan that enhance Ottumwa’s historic core as a vibrant destination and visitor experience hub. 

The plan will serve as a road map that combines streetscape, programing, branding, as well as redevelopment ideas. In addition to coordinating public investments, the master plan will help market the downtown to attract private investment and position the City for grant funding. 

Urban Regional Planning graduate students in the School of Planning & Public Affairs will partner with the City of Granger to create a Parks and Recreation master plan that provides a comprehensive vision for Granger’s local park system, recreation facilities, natural resources, and other public open spaces. 

Students enrolled in Public Policy and Persuasion in the School of Planning and Public Affairs worked with the West Branch Community School District to develop policy briefs for issues currently facing the school district. 

Public Affairs graduate students in the School of Planning & Public Affairs partnered with the City of West Branch and other community stakeholders on a multifaceted initiative to optimize the community’s historic assets as a catalyst for economic vitality, tourism development, and enhanced quality of life for residents. 

Public Affairs graduate students in the School of Planning & Public Affairs partnered with the City of West Branch, a small but growing rural community, to assess and support local fiscal policy, budgeting practices, and capital improvement planning. 

Authors: Fern Bultema, Yihan Li, Allie Tubbs, Erik Woolsey

Instructors: Travis Kraus, Phuong Nguyen

Community project leads: Heidi Van Auken, Adam Kofoed

School of Planning and Public Affairs graduate students partnered with the City of West Branch to conduct a comprehensive housing needs assessment and develop informed recommendations for local housing policy and programming.

Urban Regional Planning and Sustainable Development graduate students partnered with the City of West Branch, Iowa to update the city’s long-range comprehensive plan. 

As West Branch experiences population growth and development pressures, city leaders sought to proactively plan for the community’s future in a way that balances small-town character with sustainable growth, economic vitality, and quality of life.

Public Affairs graduate students in the School of Planning & Public Affairs partnered with the Jackson County Economic Alliance (JCEA), based in Maquoketa, Iowa, to explore strategies for improving coordination and service delivery among key economic development organizations in the county.

Public Affairs graduate students in the School of Planning & Public Affairs partnered with the City of Bondurant, Iowa to support the creation of a "Friends of the Parks" nonprofit organization. 

As Bondurant continues to grow and invest in its parks and recreation system, city leaders recognize the value of a community-based nonprofit that can deepen resident engagement, increase volunteerism, and expand fundraising opportunities to enhance and sustain local parks, trails, and recreational programming.

Two urban & regional graduate students in the School of Planning & Public Affairs worked closely with the West Burlington Trails Committee to design a unique and multi-faceted trailhead park at a prominent community location.

Courses from two University of Iowa departments - the Department of Theatre Arts and the School of Planning & Public Affairs - merged to explore the role of arts & culture in community and economic development, with a focus on supporting the launch and visioning for the Wonderful Westside Neighborhood Association in Iowa City.