Northeast Iowa RC&D holds Postville planning Open House

An open house event for the Postville planning project led by Northeast Iowa Resource Conservation & Development will help guide the priorities and direction of the plan.  At the October 3rd meeting, community members had the opportunity to help define Postville’s assets, needs, and a vision for the future of the town.  “We’re at a stage where our discussion is very broad,” says RC&D community planner Nathan Thompson.  “We need identify the key assets and values that we are going to build on going forward, and what community needs may exist.  When we know these things, we can narrow our focus a bit, and try to address those needs through specific projects within our planning area.”

 At the event, held at the YMCA, members of the public were asked to prioritize different sites for redevelopment, project ideas, and business needs.  Participants could vote for site, projects, and ideas with dots, or propose their own ideas by leaving a sticky note on the board.  “The most popular ideas so far are to renovate downtown buildings and invest in recreational facilities,” said Thompson.  “A lot of people want to see a new playground and soccer fields, but younger people seem to have an interest in a skate park.”  He also noted that many attendees wished that a coffee shop or bakery was still in town.

 Anyone with questions is welcome to call or email Project Coordinator Nathan Thompson at (563) 864-7112 or nathan@northeastiowarcd.org, or stop by the Northeast Iowa RC&D office at 101 E. Greene St. in Postville during working hours.

Read the full article in the October 11 edition of the Postville Herald.