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On this page, you'll find descriptions of individual projects and overviews of the communities with which we've partnered.
Use the filter to search for kinds of projects, e.g., public art or engineering, or to locate a specific community.
Pathfinders - Mapping of Park Accessibility
Participants in the student organization Iowa Community Integrated Geography Organization (ICIGO), will work with data and an existing map to make it more robust. They will add a crowdsourcing feature to the map and overlay it with census information.To increase users, ICIGO students will research platforms on which the map and its information can be shared and make recommendations for packaging.
Pathfinders - Mutchler Community Center Building Improvements
For their capstone projects, students in Civic and Environmental Engineering will provide designs to update a community center. They will provide design options, project timelines, and pricing to remedy some of the building's currently problematic features. This includes the entryway and the main floor gaming and weight area. Additionally, the student team will provide a redesign of the parking lot to address traffic flow.
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 - 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 - 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.
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 - 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 & 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.
Pathfinders RC&D - Reducing Administrative Burdens for Families in Need
For their MPA capstone project, a group of students will conduct research (e.g. literature review, case studies) to better understand the burden to families and individuals that need to access multiple service providers. They will locate approaches that other communities have developed to make connecting with services more streamlined by offering a single point of contact. During the Spring semester, the group will focus on engaging stakeholders, analyzing existing local conditions, and tailoring recommendations to the region.
Pathfinders RC&D - Oskaloosa Downtown Master Plan
A team of graduate students in Urban and Regional Planning will develop a comprehensive document to guide the future of downtown Oskaloosa. The Oskaloosa Downtown Master Plan will focus particularly on how use of public spaces (e.g. transportation infrastructure, public property) as well as other public support mechanisms (e.g. policies and programming) can enhance and strengthen the downtown district as the heart of the community.
Iowa Valley RC&D - Growing Local Foods Markets
This project will help identify strategies to enhance and grow markets for producers and will focus particularly on the development of a pilot project to make CSA subscriptions an employee wellness benefit by large employers. For their capstone project, a team of MPA (Master of Public Affairs) students will work with Iowa Valley RC&D staff to determine the full scope of work for the project.
Pathfinders RC&D - Nurses in the Making: A Virtual Career Exploration Program for Rural Iowa High School Students
Graduate students in the College of Nursing will develop materials and offer presentations that aim to bridge the geographical gap and inspire future nurses in rural Iowa. Their work will leverage virtual platforms to connect the College of Nursing with high schoolers interested in healthcare careers. Through this program, the graduate students will:
Bloomfield - Mutchler Community Center Mural
A University of Iowa-based artist will paint a mural at the Mutchler Community Center in Bloomfield, IA. With input from the staff and community, the artist will create a design that brings a sense of energy and excitement to the space and serves as a memorable community touchpoint.
West Burlington - Prairie Restoration
Complete Neighborhoods: A Guidebook
As part of their capstone project, students seeking the Transportation Certificate in the School of Planning & Public Affairs created a comprehensive resource for communities to work toward "complete neighborhoods" that provide close access to basic needs. They also applied the Complete Neighborhoods concepts in a collaboration with officials from Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
StoryMap of Dubuque's Sustainability Infrastructure Projects
As part of the ICIGO student organization within the Department of Geographical and Sustainability Sciences, students created a StoryMap that highlights green infrastructure projects in Dubuque.
The city of Dubuque has been widely recognized for prioritizing sustainability in community and economic development. ICIGO students created a StoryMap highlights many of the current and past initiatives that help make Dubuque a more sustainable and resilient community.
Dubuque - Tree Canopy GIS Tool
As part of the ICIGO student organization within the Department of Geographical and Sustainability Sciences, Environmental Science major Luke Caron digitized "road verges" - strips of groundcover located between a roadway and a sidewalk - to help the City of Dubuque identify the best opportunities to enhance the city's tree canopy.
Bondurant Community and Economic Development Policy Briefs
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 "hometown" identity.
Scotch Grove EcoVillage Design
As part of their Senior Design Capstone course, Civil & Environmental Engineering students created site plans and designs for a small sustainability-focused "EcoVillage" in the unincorporated community of Scotch Grove, located in Jones County.
Scotch Grove Regional Trail
Students in a Senior Capstone course in Civil and Environmental Engineering provided evaluation and design for a regional trail and trailhead connecting Scotch Grove with surrounding points of interest, such as Camp Courageous, Picture Rock Park, and the Cities of Anamosa and Monticello.