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Community Team

Intern

Samuel Thompson, Jeffrey L. Bruce and Company

Landscape Architects

Eric Doll, Jeffrey L. Bruce and Company

David Stokes, Jeffrey L. Bruce and Company

Steering Committee

Brody Bertram

Brook Boehmler

Donnis Borcherding

Spencer Clark

Crystal Cross

Jim Davies

Ron Dunt

Maguire Flint

Paul Flint

Riley Flint

Valeria Gonzalez

Newton Grotzinger

Ally Hanson

John Krull

Dyanne Pralle

Kristina Raisch

Kennedy Reynolds

Emilio Valenzuela

Sally Van Wert

Randy Westhoff

Susan Wulf

Trees Forever Facilitator

Jeff Jensen

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11•4•16

Community Report

Hampton (population 4,393) is the county seat of Franklin County in north-central Iowa. The community is located at the intersection of US Highway 65 and State Highway 3, just nine miles east of Interstate 35. The Rolling Prairie Trail runs east-west through the north part of town along a former Chicago Northwestern Railroad line and is considered a major community asset.

Hampton participated in the Visioning Program in 1997–98. Since then, the community’s demographics have changed significantly. Currently, more than 20% of the population is Hispanic, which adds cultural and economic diversity uncommon in small-town Iowa. To ensure that the needs and desires of Hispanic residents were included in the process, the ISU research team conducted focus groups with Hispanic adults and youth.  In addition to focus groups, the ISU research team, in conjunction with the design team, staffed a booth at the Gran Festival, a cultural event sponsored by La Luz Hispaña, a community center focused on the needs of Hampton’s large Hispanic community.

Planning and Design Summary

Based on the Hampton visioning committee’s identified goals, the design team developed a concept plan that addressed the following:

  • Regional and Community Trails – Connect the Rolling Prairie Trail to destinations in town as well as to regional destinations such as Beed’s Lake.
  • Trail and Trailhead Amenities – Add parking, a dog run, a bike maintenance area, benches, etc. Add lighting, benches, and trees along the trail.
  • Pedestrian Circulation – Implement a comprehensive, accessible sidewalk plan.
  • Downtown Revitalization – Provide safe pedestrian crossing areas using bump-outs, colored and textured pavement, street trees, and signage.
  • Way-finding and Identity Signage – Create signage that reflects Hampton’s identity and directs visitors to local destinations.

Assessment Highlights

Transportation Assets

All user groups enjoy the amenities offered at Progress, East, and Harriman Parks. Both Anglo and Hispanic youth frequent the pool at Progress Park during the summer. The soccer fields located at East Park host adult and youth soccer leagues. Harriman Park has a picnic area, fishing, and “cool rocks,” and is visited by all types of users.

Transportation Barriers

Every focus group identified sidewalks as a barrier to getting to everyday places and recreation facilities such as parks and the school playgrounds. Parents are concerned because there aren’t sidewalks to many places their kids go. Active users would like a sidewalk connection to East Park.

Spanish-Language Focus Groups

The concerns of Hispanic adults group are similar to those of Anglo parents. However, some Hispanic adults do not drive and need to find rides to work and other locations. This group walks to destinations to which other users would typically drive. Like the Anglo youth, Hispanic youth use primarily walk and bike, so pedestrian- and bike-friendly streets and sidewalks are important. This group spends a lot of time at school playgrounds, so having functional, up-to-date equipment matters to them.