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.

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Drawing that shows the key principles of a 15-minute city

Cedar Rapids - 15-Minute Cities: Best Practices and Literature Review

Published
Wednesday, May 24, 2023
Academic year
2023-2024

Students in the Transportation Planning Studio will collaborate with the Corridor MPO and City of Cedar Rapids to develop a guidebook that collects the current state of 15-minute city planning efforts, focused on North American examples. The guidebook will pull together information on initiatives currently underway, processes for developing 15-minute city plans, implementation challenges, and analysis techniques.

Sustainable Stormwater Systems

Sustainable Stormwater Systems

Published
Friday, May 12, 2023
Academic year
2022-2023

Urban & Regional Planning student Mae McDonough completed a StoryMap about Sustainable Stormwater Systems as part of a graduate independent study project. 

This online resource explains the importance of stormwater management, common terminology, management tools, case study research, and funding and technical resources. 

You can access the StoryMap here.

 

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. 

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. 

City of Clinton staff requested GIS shapefiles that map boundaries of certain municipal districts (mainly urban renewal and urban revitalization districts) as described as text-based legal descriptions in the city code.  Visual maps, which are much more accessible and easier to understand, were not previously available to the general public or developers, putting the burden on staff to have to understand and explain the locations.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

old limestone building with cupola and the title "Lansing"

Lansing Old Stone School Renovation and Site Development

Published
Tuesday, January 17, 2023
Academic year
2022-2023

Students in Civil & Environmental Engineering evaluated a historic structure and created plans for renovating the building and repurposing it for city offices and apartments.

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. 

URP Open House

Updating the 2006 Mason City Comprehensive Plan

Published
Monday, September 26, 2022
Academic year
2016-2017
Partner

As part of their capstone project, second-year graduate students from the University of Iowa’s School of Urban & Regional Planning will update Mason City’s 2006 Comprehensive Plan, with a thematic view towards environmental and social resiliency and a topical focus on aging in place.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.