Dubuque Hosting Public Forum on Future of Parks & Natural Spaces

A community conversation about the future of Dubuque’s parks and natural spaces is just around the corner.

Two local conservation groups — the Dubuque Audubon Society and the Dubuque Area Land and Water Legacy — are inviting the public to a forum on Thursday, May 22nd at 6 p.m. at the Carnegie-Stout Public Library. The goal? To gather ideas and feedback that will help shape the City of Dubuque’s next Parks and Recreation Master Plan.

The groups are encouraging their members, allies, and anyone who enjoys Dubuque’s parks and green spaces to attend. They’ll use the input to help form their own recommendations for the City and for Kimley-Horn — the Arizona-based consulting firm hired to lead the planning process.

Kimley-Horn was awarded a $396,000 contract to evaluate the city’s park system, gather community and stakeholder input, and deliver recommendations to the Dubuque City Council.

Marie Ware, director of the Parks and Recreation Department, says the master plan will look at the quality of Dubuque’s parks, strategies to protect natural resources, and identify gaps in service.

The Dubuque Audubon Society, a longtime advocate for local wildlife and natural habitats, plans to contribute its own vision for how the city can preserve and enhance its green spaces — especially for birds and other wildlife that call the tri-state area home.