Clinton

In 2022-23, IISC entered into a full partnership with Clinton. University of Iowa classes worked on 20 community-identified projects, including a housing needs assessment, a masterplan for use of a current undeveloped swath of land, a short film of a historic African American church, and many more. The city presented IISC with a rich array of potential projects and has strong leadership to help guide the process. IISC had previously completed project with Clinton, beginning with opportunities through the regional partnership with East Central Intergovernmental Association (ECIA).

Clinton Iowa logo
County
Clinton

Projects

Group of people

Addressing Opioid Use Disorder in Clinton

Published
Friday, December 30, 2022
Academic year
2022-2023
Partner

As part of their capstone project, graduate students in Planning and Public Affairs analyzed the current opioid crisis in the greater Clinton area and made policy recommendations to address the issue. 

colorful pencils surrounding the word survey

City of Clinton Employee Survey

Published
Tuesday, April 11, 2023
Academic year
2022-2023
Partner

Students and faculty in the School of Planning and Public Affairs conducted a survey of employee satisfaction, needs, and opportunities among City of Clinton employees. 

In the spring of 2023, the City of Clinton requested assistance from the Iowa Initiative for Sustainable Communities (IISC) to conduct a survey of the City’s workforce. The survey aimed to provide employees with an opportunity to express their opinions, concerns, and ideas about their work environment, department/organizational culture, and overall job satisfaction.

Computer graphic of campground with tents and cars.

Clinton - Eagle Point Park Campground Design

Published
Tuesday, February 21, 2023
Academic year
2022-2023
Partner

For their capstone project, students in Civil and Environmental Engineering designed a primitive campground site for Eagle Point Park in Clinton, IA. The site will provide a new outdoor experience for local residents and attract visitors to the area. It has drive-in tent camping as well as several walk-in sites. The campground also adds a new restroom and storm shelter to the park.

overhead photo of city streets with red arrows

Clinton - Activating Downtown Alleyways

Published
Wednesday, August 24, 2022
Academic year
2022-2023
Partner

Students in a course in the School of Planning and Public Affairs developed recommendations for revitalizing Clinton's alleyways with improved pavers, public art, and other modifications.

Downtown alleyways often serve important functions, such as waste management or service entrances for businesses. However, communities are increasingly recognizing alleyways as opportunities to create unique public spaces while also improving water runoff.

Bethel AME visit

Clinton - Bethel AME documentary

Published
Tuesday, April 11, 2023
Academic year
2022-2023
Partner

Arman Hodasefat, an MFA student in Cinematic Arts, created a short documentary film about the Bethel AME Church in Clinton, a historic church that served many members of the Black and African American community and others in Clinton.

Project Team

Clinton - Development of City Property (infill development)

Published
Tuesday, February 21, 2023
Academic year
2022-2023
Partner

Civil and Environmental Engineering students studied options for building on several city-owned vacant lots in Clinton with an emphasis on low- and medium-income single-family homes. For their senior capstone project, the team researched the costs of various housing materials, styles of housing, as well as financing options. They provided plans for two sites, each with design and amenities options for potential residents. 

a group of rental bicycles

Clinton - Greening Downtown through Cycling

Published
Wednesday, August 24, 2022
Academic year
2022-2023
Partner

Students in a course in the School of Planning and Public Affairs developed recommendations to "green" downtown Clinton by improving opportunities for cycling.

an image from the sky of a small town on a wide river at dusk.

Clinton - Making a Music Festival: a Behind the Scenes Documentary

Published
Tuesday, April 11, 2023
Academic year
2022-2023
Partner

A student in Cinematic Arts created a video to promote the strengths of the city of Clinton. The video has multiple purposes, including to promote tourism and share with prospective businesses. 

stormwater map

Clinton - Stormwater Utility Engineering Study

Published
Wednesday, August 24, 2022
Academic year
2022-2023
Partner

As part of their Senior Design Capstone course, Civil & Environmental Engineering students created plans for a new stormwater utility to establish an equitable system to charge customers. 

Youth Substance Abuse Prevention Project Team

Clinton - Youth Substance Abuse Prevention

Published
Wednesday, August 24, 2022
Academic year
2022-2023
Partner

For their capstone project, graduate students in Public Affairs worked with city officials to identify strategies to address drug misuse trends among youth in Clinton, Iowa.

an older large White House

Clinton Housing and Homelessness Policy Recommendations

Published
Wednesday, August 24, 2022
Academic year
2022-2023
Partner

Students in a course in the School of Planning and Public Affairs developed recommendations to help address homelessness in Clinton. 

Group of six young adults standing in front of a map.

Clinton Housing Needs Assessment / Housing Policy and Strategy

Published
Wednesday, August 24, 2022
Academic year
2022-2023
Partner

For their capstone project, students in the School of Planning and Public Affairs created an updated Housing Needs Assessment, a tool to help decision-makers ensure that existing and future residents can find safe, secure, and quality housing that meets their needs and budgets.

A group of young adults sitting on a blanket outside.

Clinton Riverview Park Festival Area Engineering and Design

Published
Wednesday, August 24, 2022
Academic year
2022-2023
Partner

Students in the College of Engineering's Civil Engineering area completed their undergraduate capstone projects with a focus on Clinton's Riverview Park. Because the park is the site of a new festival is bringing a much larger number of visitors to the area than in the past, the City asked the team to develop plans to upgrade current facilities and add new fixtures to better accommodate the park's evolving use.

Headshots of three young men

Clinton Trail Connectivity and Design

Published
Wednesday, August 24, 2022
Academic year
2022-2023
Partner

For their graduating capstone project, students in Civil and Environmental Engineering created a proposal for a new trail system aimed at cyclists and pedestrians that would connect downtown Clinton to its industrial quarter on the south side.

High school students in a gymnasium at a celebration

Clinton Youth Civic Engagement

Published
Wednesday, August 24, 2022
Academic year
2022-2023
Partner

Students in a course in the School of Planning and Public Affairs examined ways to reignite Clinton's Mayor's Youth Commission. They made recommendations about this entity, as well as other ways to better engage teens in the civic fabric of the community.

A word bubble of colorful, positive words.

Grow Clinton Marketing and Strategic Communications

Published
Wednesday, August 24, 2022
Academic year
2022-2023
Partner

Marketing Institute students from the College of Business worked with local officials to develop a fresh marketing communication plan to attract new residents, visitors, and businesses to the area. They surveyed more than 1,000 individuals regarding their perceptions of Clinton, gathered information about young professionals areas of employment interest and favorite pastimes, and reviewed current websites and social media.

keeping you sewing mural

Keeping You Sewing Mural

Published
Wednesday, August 24, 2022
Academic year
2022-2023
Partner

Sean Tyler, a graduate student in the School of Art & Art History, collaborated with downtown Clinton officials and business owner Kim Rentz to design a mural that captures the character of both a downtown anchor business, Keeping You Sewing, and elements of Clinton's history and surroundings. 

A colorful map with the text GIS on top of it.

Mapping Clinton's Municipal Districts in GIS

Published
Tuesday, April 11, 2023
Academic year
2022-2023
Partner

IISC staff used GIS to convert legal descriptions in the City of Clinton code into GIS shapefiles to aid city staff and developers. 

Clinton visit

Master Plan for Clinton’s Liberty Square District

Published
Wednesday, August 24, 2022
Academic year
2022-2023
Partner

For their capstone project, students in Planning and Sustainable Development created plans and strategies to develop Liberty Square, a narrow stretch of primarily city-owned property that runs between and adjacent to the split four lanes of Highway 30. 

A row of books

Telling the Story of Clinton's Underground Railroad History

Published
Wednesday, August 24, 2022
Academic year
2022-2023
Partner

Students from the School of Library and Information Science undertook a project to collect and digitize the records of local historians regarding the history of the Underground Railroad in Clinton. 

The Clinton area's role in the Underground Railroad is not widely known, even among local residents. This projected culminated in creation of a publicly accessible LibGuide, an easy-to-use content management system.