West Burlington / Burlington
West Burlington serves as regional hub and is home to the Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center, Southeastern Community College, and regional retailers. Nearly 60 percent of the West Burlington Community School District's student enrollment is from outside of West Burlington. Residents have a strong, community-oriented nature with numerous multi-generational families.
Burlington is the center of a micropolitan area, which includes West Burlington and Middletown Iowa, and Gulfport, Illinois. The first territorial capital of Iowa, Burlington was a bustling river port in the steamboat era and a central city to the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad. The city has a strong manufacturing sector, though its largest employer today is the Great River Medical Center.
Burlington is home to the Burlington Bees, a summer collegiate team. Dubbed the Crookedest Street in America, Snake Alley is a tourist destination. Established in 1837, Burlington's The Hawk Eye newspaper is the oldest in the state.
Projects
West Burlington & Burlington - Arts and Culture Master Plan
For their capstone project, graduate students in the School of Planning and Public Affairs will create the first comprehensive arts and cultural plan for West Burlington and Burlington, communities that share a border and strong sense of collaboration while maintaining distinct identities.
West Burlington & Burlington - Shared Services Study
During the fall semester, the MPA capstone team will conduct research (e.g. literature review, case studies) to better understand the service needs of West Burlington and Burlington, as well as locating effective approaches undertaken by other communities. During Spring semester, the team will focus on engaging stakeholders, analyzing existing local conditions, cost/benefit analyses, and developing recommendations.
West Burlington & Burlington - Transportation and Land Use Plan
The Southeast Iowa Regional Planning Commission (SEIRPC) has produced several transportation-related plans, including the Greater Burlington Bike & Pedestrian Plan (2020) to the Region 16 Passenger Transportation Plan (2021). This capstone project for students in Urban Planning and Sustainable Development will build upon these efforts to sustain recent momentum around multi-modal transportation options and identify new opportunities to increase mobility for residents, particularly for residents without reliable access to transportation.
West Burlington - Luers Park Stormwater Drainage Engineering and Design
For their capstone project, Civil and Environmental Engineering students will focus on drainage of Luers Park in West Burlington. They will assess the current situation and develop plans toward alleviating current hydraulic problems.
West Burlington - Prairie Restoration
West Burlington - Property Subdivision Site Engineering and Design
Students in a capstone Civil and Environmental Engineering program will design a site plan for the subdivision that will maximize the number of homes that can be developed. They may include plans for a pocket park as part of the project, setting the example for future developments.
West Burlington - Trail Engineering and Design
For their capstone project, students in Civil and Environmental Engineering will design a 10-foot wide trail that includes pedestrian cross improvements at several intersections. The trail will run near a recreation complex, several schools, residential and commercial areas, and a senior housing unit.