Comprehensive Parks, Trails and Open Spaces Plan

RDG led an 18-month comprehensive parks planning effort to help establish a twenty-year vision for Dubuque County Parks. This planning effort was focused on preserving and protecting the natural landscape while elevating the quality of life for users – effectively balancing recreational demands with the natural environment. Significant attention was paid to improving user access, educating the public (and K-12 students), building awareness of the park system and growing the constituency of conservation supporters. Special factors included the use of geo-spatial modeling, including an analysis of karst depressions (ground water/sensitive lands), acquisition, the integration of watershed plans (watershed protection) and a species richness model to target high-quality habitats for protection.