Press Release
The Iowa’s Living Roadways Community Visioning Program is currently accepting applications for the 2026 program year. Eligible communities are those with populations of fewer than 10,000 residents, existing transportation-related issues, and a committee of volunteers willing to dedicate their time and talent to the visioning process. Only communities located within 1 mile of a state or federal highway will be selected.
The visioning program integrates technical landscape planning and design techniques with sustainable community action to empower local leaders through a planning process that results in an enhancement plan that reflects the values and identity of the community.
The program is sponsored by the Iowa Department of Transportation in partnership with Iowa State University Landscape Architecture Extension and Trees Forever, an Iowa-based nonprofit with a mission to plant and care for trees and the environment by empowering people, building community and promoting stewardship.
Public participation is the key to identifying the needs and desires of a community, said Julia Badenhope, program director and professor of landscape architecture at Iowa State. Community Visioning Program staff engage client community residents using a variety of methods to ensure a more inclusive public process. For example in larger communities, surveys are sent to a random sample of households to better understand how residents use the local transportation system. Program staff conduct focus groups with a variety of user types, including parents, youth, older adults, people with mobility issues and active recreationists, to identify factors that affect transportation use in communities.
Community installations give residents flexibility to view design proposals and provide feedback when it is convenient for them and bring attention to potential project sites, Badenhope said. All communities have their own webpage on the Community Visioning website, where residents can access meeting information, design proposals and eventually final products. The program engages the public on a variety of social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.
Next year will mark Community Visioning’s 30th anniversary. Over the course of those 30 years, 266 Iowa communities throughout the state have participated in the program, ranging in size from towns of fewer than 100 residents to cities with close to 9,000 people. Of these communities, 40 have gone through the process more than once.
The results of ongoing evaluation show how the program has impacted Iowa communities, with 98% of communities completing at least one project and nearly 50% completing four or more.
“Furthermore, our case studies of successful visioning communities support our belief that engaging local residents generates the knowledge necessary to make changes that the community as a whole will embrace,” Badenhope said.
“One of the things I find amazing about rural Iowa is the civic culture, sense of community trust and this deep connection to the lifestyle and environment. This program works to empower people and build on those cultural dimensions,” said Badenhope.
Communities selected to participate are required to contribute $2,000 (either cash or in-kind) toward program implementation. In return, the visioning program provides professional services valued at more than $100,000.
Communities interested in applying to the 2026 Community Visioning Program can apply online at www.communityvisioning.org/apply/. Communities that would like assistance with the application process should contact Sandra Oberbroeckling, 515-294-3721, soberbr@iastate.edu, or Brad Riphagen, 515-370-1291, briphagen@treesforever.org.
Applications must be submitted by Sept. 2, 2025. Selections will be announced at the end of September.
