Bondurant is currently developing a Civic Campus area that will include new municipal buildings. One of these is a a new public works facility. The current building housing this area of city government is being transitioned into the central parks and recreation building.

For their capstone project in Civil and Environmental Engineering, a team of students devised a way to connect two sections of the popular Chichaqua Valley Trail. Their design will create a more direct path for bikers and pedestrians. The design also includes a new bridge to replace an existing railroad bridge that has deteriorated and is no longer safe. Additionally, the team designed a food truck plaza, arboretum, and parking.

A community is built on its history and work needs to be done to maintain the stories and objects related to its past. As Bondurant grows and evolves, there is a desire to retain and safe-keep the history of those who have deep roots to the area and its traditions.

How can Bondurant make its existing properties, including buildings and land, as sustainable as possible? This question is at the heart of a project led by Masters of Public Affairs students as they consider options for the city to increase green buildings, solar panels, wind, and other sustainable features that can be added to Bondurant's growing civic infrastructure.

Bondurant, Iowa, like other communities in Iowa, is facing a critical question:  How can the city repurpose the grain silo complex in downtown and make it a catalyst for growth and development? This is a complicated question of identity, design, law, funding, honoring the past, and envisioning the future. The City’s goal is to repurpose a 24-acre parcel of land in the middle of downtown, which has silos, grain elevators, and railroad tracks. These buildings have long been part of the fabric of the community and the city skyline.

The City of Bondurant seeks a new Parks & Recreation Master Plan that provides comprehensive vision for the local park system, recreation facilities, natural resources, and other public open spaces. The most recent plan was completed in 2013, and Bondurant’s 2022 Comprehensive Plan provides a strong foundation for updating the Master Plan. The Plan will identify strategies to enhance, expand, and protect features that support active lifestyles, equitable access, and a healthy community.

A mural depicting Iowa birds was added to the side of Bondurant's Emergency Services building. Located at the Bondurant Regional Trailhead, the building is the future home of the city's Parks and Recreation Facility. 

Created by Drew Etienne (MFA, University of Iowa), the mural encapsulates the beauty of Iowa's natural landscape across all four seasons. The artist statement conveys the inspiration for the design: 

The City of Bondurant currently relies on Polk County for public safety needs, including for crime, fire, animal control, and other calls that could potentially be received by a city police department. With its current growth rate in mind, Bondurant has tasked students in the School of Planning and Public Affairs to consider the need for and feasibility of a city-led department. In addition to assessing current and future needs, the team is researching options that are proving successful in other similarly sized communities, including greater funding to social service providers.  

Bondurant adopted Chapter 167 Stream Buffer Protection and Management in an effort to protect the various streams that flow through its city limits. This project will include the mapping of the streams that flow through Bondurant, applying the appropriate buffer zone to each zone, and/or applying the appropriate maintenance zone to each stream. Students in ICIGO will help Bondurant citizens as well as city staff identify undevelopable land surrounding these streams. 

A student in Cinematic Arts will undertake this promotional film for Bondurant. 

Students in the course Policy and Persuasion worked with City of Bondurant representatives to develop policy directions for issues related to the city's rapid growth and their desire to preserve the community's core "small town" identity.    

Graduate students in the Department of English worked with the Bondurant Historical Society to develop multimedia resources that connect Bondurant's past and future, focusing on ways to preserve community heritage and identity in the face of rapid community growth.