Et cetera : Focus Groups Identify Community Needs and Opportunities in Shellsburg

Focus Groups Identify Community Needs and Opportunities

Contacts:

Nancy Thorkildson, Shellsburg citizen, 319-521-4080

Dustin Hinrichs, Trees Forever, 319-373-0650

On April 6, 2013 approximately fifty Shellsburg residents participated in a focus group workshop as part of the Iowa’s Living Roadways Community Visioning Program. The focus groups are part of an input gathering process under way to identify transportation needs and opportunities for enhancements in Shellsburg.

Four different focus groups occurred, representing seniors, parents, youth and “active recreation users” such as walkers, joggers and bicyclists. Additionally the Shellsburg Community Visioning Steering Committee also provided input through a focus group. There is much interest in improving sidewalks throughout the town and in developing recreation trails. Safer options for bicyclists and correction of drainage problems are also desired. Participants expressed appreciation for the new bridge and development of the Memorial Park to the north of the elevators and hope to see continued improvements in both the city’s parks.

The next step in the process will be “special places mapping” and “visual quality” workshops on May 11, 2013 from 9:00am until 2:00pm at the Shellsburg Fire Station. Local historians and outdoor enthusiasts will be recruited to identify special places of significance to Shellsburg residents. All residents of Shellsburg are invited to participate in the “visual quality” workshops. They will take photos of views in Shellsburg that they perceive as positive or needing improvement. Participants will be provided with GPS-enabled digital cameras, so that the locations of their photos, along with their comments, can be mapped on an online map of the community. ISU design interns will compile all of the visual quality information and present it to the Shellsburg visioning committee and the public at 2:00 that afternoon. The results of the visual quality assessment, along with the focus group and special places mapping findings, will be the basis for the transportation enhancement plan for Shellsburg.

To learn more about participating in the visual quality workshop or the overall visioning process, please call Nancy Thorkildson at 319-436-4542 or Dustin Hinrichs, Trees Forever field coordinator, at 319-373-0650.

The Iowa’s Living Roadways Community Visioning Program is sponsored by the Iowa Department of Transportation in partnership with Iowa State University Extension Landscape Architecture and Trees Forever.