Community Visioning - Clarion, IA

JBC Landscape Architects guided Clarion through a community visioning process focused on enhancing transportation corridors, strengthening community identity, and improving pedestrian and recreational connections. Working alongside Trees Forever field staff and Iowa State University partners, the team engaged residents and stakeholders through surveys, focus groups, and on-the-ground assessments of circulation patterns, parks, natural resources, and community assets. This collaborative process helped clarify how people move through Clarion today and where better connections, visibility, and amenities could make a meaningful difference.

The steering committee highlighted several priority areas: creating a more connected trail system with formalized trailheads and amenities, enhancing existing parks, upgrading sidewalks and street corridors, improving signage and wayfinding, and continuing downtown reinvestment efforts. These focus points shaped a coordinated set of concept plans that address trail safety, park improvements, accessibility, stormwater strategies, and targeted downtown infrastructure updates.

The final concept plan provides Clarion with a clear, forward-looking framework for strengthening mobility, celebrating community character, and guiding future investment. Presentation boards captured these recommendations in detail, giving the city an actionable roadmap for pursuing funding, phasing improvements, and supporting long-term community growth.