The document summarizes a presentation by the Heritage Trail Community Planning Assistance Team (CPAT) regarding their analysis and recommendations for improving the Heritage Trail in Dubuque County, Iowa. The CPAT conducted a site visit and stakeholder interviews to develop a plan. Their recommendations focused on enhancing the trail's identity and wayfinding system, expanding compatible uses and improving safety, accessibility, and connectivity to surrounding communities.

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

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. The Last Four Years…

8. The Heritage Trail is nearly open!

9. Make the Connections

10. Leave a Legacy: Connecting Past & Future

11. Sustainability = Economic Prosperity

12. Maintain a Collaborative Spirit

13. “What Gets Measured Gets Managed”
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
Jan-13
Sep-13
Jan-14
Sep-14
Jan-15
Sep-15
Trail Counts

14. Continued Careful & Calculated Investment

15. You Are Entrepreneurs!

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

17. Trail Identity

Aging infrastructure

Replaced Bridges
Current Conditions

18. Preserving Trail Value
Taking care of what you have
Trail Identity

19. Identity
Enhancing Identity:
“Wayfinding” along the trail
Finding the “way” to the trail

20. 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?!!!

21. Developing a signage system
Establish a “visual character”
What is the Heritage Trail?
Identity: the physical trail

22. 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

23. Developing a signage system
Establish the sign hierarchy
How much is needed?
Identity: the physical trail

24. Sign System Considerations
Identity: the physical trail
Identify Base Information: Trail Name
Determine Sign Locations
Develop Messages: Trailhead, Access, Directional, Mileage

25. Sign System Considerations
Identity: the physical trail

26. Sign System Considerations
Identity: the physical trail
Directions: Where to go?
Navigation information
Sign Types

27. Directions: Where to go? Navigation information Sign Types for Trailheads & Access
Identity: the physical trail

28. Location: Where am I?
Orientation Information
Identity: the physical trail

29. Location: Where am I?
Identity:
the physical trail
Orientation information

30. Connections Where else to go? Supportive information
Identity: the physical trail
Nearby attractions

31. Expanding Trail Use Who are the current users? How to spread the word?
Identity: spreading the word

32. Expanding Trail Use/Users
How to share the story?
Marketing information
Identity: spreading the word

33. 
Trail Fee Program – asset or liability?

Trail Count Program

Trail “Membership”
Expanding Trail Use
Trail Advocacy: “Friends”, Coalition, Non-profit…

34. Restrooms
Parking
Drinking Water
Camping
Fishing
Other recreational facilities
Expanding Trail Use: Long Term
Physical Improvements
Programmatic Improvements
History Culture Natural Environment

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

36. Highlighting Assets
•
Geology
•
History
•
Natural - Uplands
•
Natural – Streams/Wetlands
•
Community

37. Geology
•
Coulee Region (Driftless Area)
•
Limestone Bluffs
•
Split Rock
•
Fossils

38. History
•
Native American
•
Railroad
•
Infrastructure
•
Farming (Past/Future)

39. Natural - Uplands
•
Prairie Remnants
•
Oak-Hickory Forest
•
Adjacent Land Uses
•
Species of Concern
•
Bald Eagle
•
Prairie Dock
•
Blazing Star
•
Leonard's Skippers

40. Natural – Streams/Wetlands
•
Little Maquoketa
•
Wetlands
•
Watershed Management
•
Flooding & Drainage

41. Community
•
Cascade
•
Dubuque
•
Durango
•
Dyersville
•
Epworth
•
Farley
•
Graf

42. Regional Assets
•
Develop Watershed Management
•
Promote Sustainability
•
Utilize native species
•
Ensure compatible land use(s)

43. 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

44. •
Interpretive areas (“Historic Classroom”)
•
Tell the story - Naturalists (volunteer/paid)
•
Plant identification/labels
•
Educational Opportunities
•
Opportunities for camping
•
Responsible native seed harvesting
Trail Assets

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

46. The Trail: Everybody’s Friend
Making the trail more accessible and user friendly
Safety
Parking
Lighting
Emergency Management
Connectivity
Opportunities

47. 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

48. Trail Crossings
Signage for:

Trail Users
Vehicles
___________
Marked
Crosswalks

49. Trail Crossings
Variable Messaging Signs

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

51. 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

52. Safety – Example Site
Existing Conditions

53. Safety – Example Site
Potential Safety Improvements

54. Emergency Management
Location identification for emergencies
Call boxes (solar for rural locations)

55. 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

56. 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

57. 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

58. Opportunities
Highlight existing destinations along the trail

Fossils

Split Rock

Phoenix Truss Bridge - 1872

Stone Drainage Arches

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

60. Side Path Potential
Side Hiking Paths /
Camping Areas (Higher Ground)

61. Hit the Trail…