Boone-Hamilton-Webster Regional Plan

Survey

Thank you for participating in the Boone-Hamilton-Webster Regional Plan Survey. We have just a few questions for you. By way of background, the Regional Plan for these three counties has been supported by a grant from the Iowa Parks Foundation and matched by public and private dollars from partners throughout the three-county region. The plan will ultimately be put together to achieve the following vision for the region:

A region renowned for its breathtaking river valleys, high trestle rail lines, working farms and natural lands – connected to historic communities of character and opportunity, allowing all to reach their dreams.

Your ideas and input are critical for achieving this vision. Again, thanks for participating.

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* 1. Which of the following possible actions do you see as providing the best likelihood of helping the region achieve the vision above? Please check no more than three.

Enhance and expand the region’s trails network

Expand/build upon the existing water trails network and the beauty of the region’s river valleys

Improve walkability and opportunities for active living within communities

Expand access and promotion of recreation in the great outdoors

Improve water quality within the region

Build on the talents of artists and artisans to integrate culture, art and conservation within communities, in parks and along trails

Ensure the region’s ability to maintain the parks, trails and cultural features already in place

Expand overnight stay in the region through increased opportunities for camping

Create a regional identity or brand and promote it collaboratively

Expand agri-tourism (farm tourism) within the region

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* 2. Here is a sampling of the many ideas that have surfaced so far about projects or initiatives that might be important to consider for this regional plan. Assuming a public-private partnership could be put in place to fund this idea, how would you rate its ability to improve the quality of life for residents in the region and promote economic development/tourism? Excellent, Good, Fair, or Poor?

	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor
Develop and implement a branding/marketing plan	Develop and implement a branding/marketing plan Excellent	Develop and implement a branding/marketing plan Good	Develop and implement a branding/marketing plan Fair	Develop and implement a branding/marketing plan Poor
Establish a regional Nature-and-Folk Arts School	Establish a regional Nature-and-Folk Arts School Excellent	Establish a regional Nature-and-Folk Arts School Good	Establish a regional Nature-and-Folk Arts School Fair	Establish a regional Nature-and-Folk Arts School Poor
Develop a micro-business hub and incubator	Develop a micro-business hub and incubator Excellent	Develop a micro-business hub and incubator Good	Develop a micro-business hub and incubator Fair	Develop a micro-business hub and incubator Poor
Create farm crawls, wind turbine tours and other farm-based experiences for tourists	Create farm crawls, wind turbine tours and other farm-based experiences for tourists Excellent	Create farm crawls, wind turbine tours and other farm-based experiences for tourists Good	Create farm crawls, wind turbine tours and other farm-based experiences for tourists Fair	Create farm crawls, wind turbine tours and other farm-based experiences for tourists Poor
Create an interconnected trails system—integrating land/footpaths, water trails and paved trails	Create an interconnected trails system—integrating land/footpaths, water trails and paved trails Excellent	Create an interconnected trails system—integrating land/footpaths, water trails and paved trails Good	Create an interconnected trails system—integrating land/footpaths, water trails and paved trails Fair	Create an interconnected trails system—integrating land/footpaths, water trails and paved trails Poor
Create a series of tours of the region featuring any number of sites and amenities (e.g., winery tours, cemetery tours, museum tours, architectural circuits)	Create a series of tours of the region featuring any number of sites and amenities (e.g., winery tours, cemetery tours, museum tours, architectural circuits) Excellent	Create a series of tours of the region featuring any number of sites and amenities (e.g., winery tours, cemetery tours, museum tours, architectural circuits) Good	Create a series of tours of the region featuring any number of sites and amenities (e.g., winery tours, cemetery tours, museum tours, architectural circuits) Fair	Create a series of tours of the region featuring any number of sites and amenities (e.g., winery tours, cemetery tours, museum tours, architectural circuits) Poor
Establish a mechanism for ongoing, sustainable funding to make sure basic parks, trails, arts and community operations can stand the test of time	Establish a mechanism for ongoing, sustainable funding to make sure basic parks, trails, arts and community operations can stand the test of time Excellent	Establish a mechanism for ongoing, sustainable funding to make sure basic parks, trails, arts and community operations can stand the test of time Good	Establish a mechanism for ongoing, sustainable funding to make sure basic parks, trails, arts and community operations can stand the test of time Fair	Establish a mechanism for ongoing, sustainable funding to make sure basic parks, trails, arts and community operations can stand the test of time Poor
Place a focus through promotions and programming on the region’s timber, river valleys, prairies and geologic features	Place a focus through promotions and programming on the region’s timber, river valleys, prairies and geologic features Excellent	Place a focus through promotions and programming on the region’s timber, river valleys, prairies and geologic features Good	Place a focus through promotions and programming on the region’s timber, river valleys, prairies and geologic features Fair	Place a focus through promotions and programming on the region’s timber, river valleys, prairies and geologic features Poor
Invest in revitalizing the physical infrastructure of the region’s smaller communities	Invest in revitalizing the physical infrastructure of the region’s smaller communities Excellent	Invest in revitalizing the physical infrastructure of the region’s smaller communities Good	Invest in revitalizing the physical infrastructure of the region’s smaller communities Fair	Invest in revitalizing the physical infrastructure of the region’s smaller communities Poor

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* 3. What is your best idea (or ideas) for improving the quality of life in the region, enhancing tourism/economic development, promoting public health, encouraging stewardship of our natural resources and/or encouraging the public to enjoy both the arts and the great outdoors?

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* 4. Finally, what else do you want to say that will help us develop a helpful regional parks, arts, trails, communities and tourism plan for Boone-Hamilton-Webster?

Thank you for participating in our survey!