Clear
Lake Surf
District
Update
The Clear Lake Surf District Update builds from RDG's prior planning experience in Clear Lake to plan for improvements specific to the surf district area. This planning update offers a renewed vision for the area, moving forward from successful projects resulting from prior plans.
Clear Lake, a northern Iowa resort community of 8,000, originally hired RDG in the early 2000's to develop a comprehensive plan. RDG assisted the community in completing the Downtown/ Lakeshore Plan and the Buddy Holly District Plan. Both of these efforts have successfully moved into implementation and additional planning and implementation efforts. The greatest planning challenge for the Clear Lake area is the snowbird phenomenon wherein much of the population migrates south for winter. Through an inclusive public process, the community identified challenges and formulated goals and strategies to accomplish the long range vision for the community - a year-round economy capitalizing on Clear Lake's small-town charm.