Heritage Trail Community Planning Assistance Team Heritage Trail – Dubuque County, IA Final Presentation City of Dubuque, Iowa October 20th, 2012

American Planning Association Independent, Not-for-profit, Educational Organization 43,000+ members

60% = state and local gov’t employees 40% = elected officials, private consultants, academia, &

fields related to planning/community change 15,000+ AICP members (certified planners) Chapters representing every state Members in 85 countries

APA Mission: APA provides leadership in the development of vital communities by advocating excellence in community planning, promoting education and citizen empowerment, and providing the tools and support necessary to meet the challenges of growth and change.

Community Planning Assistance Teams (CPAT) Part of APA’s Community Assistance Program Pro bono program CPATs since 1995 Assist communities lacking planning resources The CPAT program provides an independent, professional, third-party planning analysis and suggested planning approach.

CPAT Process Application selection Select team leader Team leader visit Team member selection Briefing book Plan visit/logistics/ stakeholder interview schedule/ community engagement Team visit (3 to 5 days) Final report

Sponsor: Dubuque Smart Planning Consortium

Agencies: Dubuque County | City of Dubuque | City of Asbury | City of Cascade

City of Dyersville | City of Epworth | City of Farley City of Peosta | Dubuque Soil & Water Conservation District Special thanks to: Dubuque Conservation Board & their Staff

The Heritage Trail CPAT

Paula Reeves, AICP CTP

Jean Akers, AICP

Jason Epley, AICP

Steve Lane, AICP

Olympia, WA

Vancouver, WA

Kannapolis, NC

Cincinnati, OH

The Last Four Years…

The Heritage Trail is nearly open!

Make the Connections

Leave a Legacy: Connecting Past & Future

Sustainability = Economic Prosperity

Maintain a Collaborative Spirit

“What Gets Measured Gets Managed”

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500

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Jan-13 Sep-13 Jan-14 Sep-14 Jan-15 Sep-15

Trail Counts

Continued Careful & Calculated Investment

You Are Entrepreneurs!

It’s Not About the Trail Creating an Identity for Heritage Trail

Trail Identity Aging infrastructure Replaced Bridges Current Conditions

Preserving Trail Value Taking care of what you have

Trail Identity

Identity

Enhancing Identity: “Wayfinding” along

the trail

Finding the “way” to the trail

Identity: the physical trail What is it? Where is it? What is it like? How long is it? What’s there to do? What will I see? Is it hard to use? Is it safe? …etc…

Where’s the restroom?!!!

Developing a signage system

Establish a “visual character”

What is the Heritage Trail?

Identity: the physical trail

Levels of information

Developing a wayfinding system: (signs, maps, printed, digital and online materials) • describe the physical

trail, • help navigation, and • manage expectations

for trail experiences

Identity: the physical trail

Developing a signage system

Establish the sign hierarchy

How much is needed?

Identity: the physical trail

Sign System Considerations

Identity: the physical trail

Identify Base Information: Trail Name

Determine Sign Locations

Develop Messages: Trailhead, Access, Directional, Mileage

Sign System Considerations Identity: the physical trail

Sign System Considerations

Identity: the physical trail

Directions: Where to go? Navigation information Sign Types

Directions: Where to go? Navigation information Sign Types for Trailheads & Access

Identity: the physical trail

Location: Where am I? Orientation Information

Identity: the physical trail

Location: Where am I?

Identity: the physical trail

Orientation information

Connections Where else to go? Supportive information

Identity: the physical trail

Nearby attractions

Expanding Trail Use Who are the current users? How to spread the word?

Identity: spreading the word

Expanding Trail Use/Users How to share the story? Marketing information

Identity: spreading the word

Trail Fee Program – asset or liability? Trail Count Program Trail “Membership”

Expanding Trail Use

Trail Advocacy: “Friends”, Coalition, Non-profit…

Restrooms Parking Drinking Water

Camping Fishing Other recreational facilities

Expanding Trail Use: Long Term Physical Improvements

Programmatic Improvements History Culture Natural Environment

Connecting to Your Heritage Leverage and educate people about the natural and cultural setting and your communities

Highlighting Assets

• Geology

• History

• Natural - Uplands

• Natural – Streams/Wetlands

• Community

Geology • Coulee Region

(Driftless Area)

• Limestone Bluffs

• Split Rock

• Fossils

History • Native American

• Railroad

• Infrastructure

• Farming

(Past/Future)

Natural - Uplands

• Prairie Remnants

• Oak-Hickory Forest

• Adjacent Land Uses

• Species of Concern • Bald Eagle • Prairie Dock • Blazing Star • Leonard's Skippers

Natural – Streams/Wetlands • Little Maquoketa

• Wetlands

• Watershed

Management

• Flooding & Drainage

Community • Cascade

• Dubuque

• Durango

• Dyersville

• Epworth

• Farley

• Graf

Regional Assets

• Develop Watershed Management

• Promote Sustainability

• Utilize native species

• Ensure compatible land use(s)

Compatible Land Use • Land Uses adjacent to the trail

Primarily rural agriculture Single Family Residential (associated

with large farms) Commercial Light Industrial

• Compatibility Issues Types of uses, intensity and density Hazardous materials storage Commercial (at key intersections –

trailheads) Light Industrial

• Interpretive areas (“Historic Classroom”)

• Tell the story - Naturalists (volunteer/paid)

• Plant identification/labels

• Educational Opportunities

• Opportunities for camping

• Responsible native seed harvesting

Trail Assets

The Trail: Everybody’s Friend Making the Trail More Accessible & User Friendly

The Trail: Everybody’s Friend Making the trail more accessible and user friendly

Safety Parking Lighting Emergency Management Connectivity Opportunities

Trail Crossings

Conflict points (vehicles / trail users) General Guidance –

Clearly marked intersections Highly visible / Unobstructed views Relatively flat Warning Signage Well trimmed vegetation Perpendicular designation of crossing area

Trail Crossings Signage for:

Trail Users Vehicles ___________

Marked Crosswalks

Trail Crossings Variable Messaging Signs

Parking Need for new and improved parking areas Parking on roadway shoulders creates safety concerns Construct as context sensitive and low impact

Lighting Adequate lighting helps improve safety and security

Increased need in more urban areas

Careful placement in rural areas of trail to avoid disrupting the natural setting

For example: o Lighting at key intersections to improve

safety

Low Cost Solar lighting possible in rural areas

Safety – Example Site

Existing Conditions

Safety – Example Site

Potential Safety Improvements

Emergency Management

Location identification for emergencies Call boxes (solar for rural locations)

Connect the Trail Increase connectivity to Cities/Towns Identify unique destinations in each town

History / Unique Attractions Field of Dreams / “Go the Distance” Downtown / Local Business Agritourism

Connect the Trail Small Business Development

Trail User Related Businesses o Rental Facilities (Bikes, kayaks, canoes) o Drinks, water, food

Retail Goods and Services near trailheads

Opportunities Potential improvements Water (for Drinking) Additional Benches, Trash Receptacles Restroom Facilities Interpretive Areas / Educational Opportunities Additional Signage (as part of a coordinated plan) Joint Facilities / Partnerships Youth Bicycle Safety Education

Opportunities Highlight existing destinations along the trail

Fossils Split Rock Phoenix Truss Bridge - 1872 Stone Drainage Arches

Opportunities Potential destinations along the trail Side hiking paths adjacent to main trail Camping Rock Climbing Kayaking/Canoeing Sundown / Connection to Trail

Side Path Potential Side Hiking Paths /

Camping Areas (Higher Ground)

Hit the Trail…