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NEWS RELEASE

09-22-03

Contacts:
Julia Badenhope, Landscape Architecture, (515) 294-3007
Sandra Oberbroeckling, Landscape Architecture, (515) 294-3721
Pam Helfer, Trees Forever, (800) 369-1269

2004 COMMUNITY VISIONING APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE

AMES, Iowa -- Iowa communities with populations below 10,000 are invited to apply for a community visioning program offered by Iowa State University's department of landscape architecture in partnership with Trees Forever.

Iowa's Living Roadways Community Visioning Program: A Transportation Enhancement Program is a planning process that encourages visionary and strategic thinking about landscape improvement. The final outcome is a conceptual landscape plan that graphically illustrates the vision of the community leaders and volunteers.

The program targets smaller communities, particularly those without design and planning services readily available. Parks, roadsides, open spaces, trails, wayside parks, entryways and other sites fit program criteria.

During the visioning process, participants gain an understanding of the community and its landscape, create concept plans to enhance community transportation corridors and develop a strategy to implement those concepts.

Iowa State's landscape architecture department coordinates professional design services, including an on-site community workshop with design professionals, ISU student interns and computer-aided visualization services. Trees Forever field coordinators provide guidance, education and structured facilitation of the planning process.

Twelve communities will be selected. A review team of Iowa Department of Transportation experts, private-sector landscape architects, Trees Forever field coordinators and ISU project staff will select the communities based on the following criteria: community goals that reflect the goals of the visioning program, a demonstrated need for assistance, the support and commitment of the community, the ability to provide a $1,000 cash or in-kind match for implementation and the overall quality and completeness of the application. Selections will be announced in November.

Applications are available from Trees Forever, (800) 369-1269. Completed applications must be postmarked by Oct.15. For more information, contact Trees Forever or the landscape architecture department at Iowa State, (515) 294-3721.

Since 1996, 87 Iowa communities have participated in the Iowa's Living Roadways Community Visioning Program. The program is funded by the Iowa DOT in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration.

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