Two RDG Planning Projects Receive APA Awards
RDG applies creativity and innovation to the preparation of plans that help address both community and regional issues.
The American Planning Association (APA) Iowa Chapter recently recognized two of RDG’s projects for helping cities strengthen and create more thriving communities. The following projects are recipients of APA Iowa Planning awards: The Dyersville Downtown Plan (Economic Development Planning Category) and Davenport GO (Transportation Planning Category).
Dyersville, Iowa is most known for the Field of Dreams movie site. The purpose of the City of Dyersville Downtown Plan is to “create new opportunities to increase business, unite the community around the district, create a unique shopping and business environment, and make spaces for people to gather, all while preserving the small-town atmosphere and history that characterizes downtown.” The plan prefaced the update of the comprehensive plan, framing how the goals and priorities for downtown will radiant out into the community. Since its adoption in the Summer of 2018, several projects have been underway as a result of the Downtown Plan.
The City of Davenport engaged the services of RDG and ALTA to improve and further develop the City’s multi-modal network for the purpose of providing opportunities for modal choice within an auto-centric environment. Davenport Go expands upon an established series of multi-use trails and provides a detailed program for an inter- and intra-connected system of additional trails, sidewalks, bike lanes, and other facilities that will help to increase the number of residents that use biking and walking as a form of transportation.
The study demonstrates good, innovative planning in several ways; it provides something for everyone with a variety of options; it balances recreation and transportation; it is implementable through a phased process; and uses both best practices and new innovations in design.
Read about the other APA award winners.