Community Visioning - Vail, IA

JBC Landscape Architects led Vail through a community visioning process designed to strengthen transportation corridors, enhance community identity, and guide long-term improvements. Working with a local steering committee, the team facilitated goal-setting workshops, visual assessments, and a full inventory of circulation patterns, natural resources, and community assets.

The committee identified several priorities: entry signage and community identity, Highway 30 and Main Street enhancements, a trail system, accessibility upgrades, and improvements to the community park and King’s Creek area. The design team analyzed travel patterns, recreational use, and pedestrian and bicycle activity to ensure the plan reflected residents’ daily interactions with the town.

The concept plan includes coordinated improvements such as an entrance corridor along Highway 30, murals, and streetscape plantings; a pocket park with memorial and historical features; a connected trail network; and upgrades to Main Street and the public park to enhance accessibility, lighting, and amenities. A comprehensive set of presentation boards documented each recommendation, giving Vail a clear, actionable vision for long-term community development and corridor enhancements.