CRESTON:

CRESTON: WALKABILITY ASSESSMENT ASSESSMENT REPORT REPORT 1 FOREWORD

Thank you to all the participants who took part in the audit workshop. Healthy HometownSM Powered by Wellmark was invited by the Union County Development Association to assist in identifying opportunities for enhancing walkability and bikeability.

Healthy Hometown is a way to make your community an even better place to live, work and play by using proven tools and techniques that help make the healthy choice the easy choice. Healthy Hometown provides evidence-based built environment and behavioral economics principles that result in desired action along with policy modifications to help communities make sustainable changes that will improve the overall well-being of residents. Implementing changes to make the environment safer for and bicyclists is one primary way to achieve sustainable change.

The walking audit that was performed in Creston was designed to help community members identify and visualize ways to provide a better environment for walking and biking. The walking audit is also designed to stimulate conversation within the community regarding actions that can be taken.

What follows is an identification of community members who participated in the walking audit, recommendations based on the walking audit and a summary of the conversation. Some recommendations are low cost and could be easy to implement, while others may be large expenses that could take years of planning and work. We hope these recommendations will provide a framework for your community to make Creston more - and bike-friendly.

CRESTON: WALKABILITY ASSESSMENT REPORT 2 SUMMARY

WALKING AND BIKING CONNECTIONS • Prioritize construction of infill sidewalks where there are gaps in the current network 4 LIST OF PARTICIPANTS • Establish and enforce an annual sidewalk inspection and repair program Require sidewalks with new development projects 5 WALKING AUDIT ROUTE • • Install ADA-compliant curb ramps at all intersections 6 WALKING AND BIKING CONNECTIONS • Construct a trail along Adams between McKinley Park and Uptown Creston 11 CREATING A SENSE OF PLACE • Implement a road diet on Sumner Avenue • Consider installing a roundabout at the intersection of Sumner Avenue and Taylor 17 PARTICIPANT DISCUSSION/NEXT STEPS Street

CREATING A SENSE OF PLACE • Invest in unique streetscaping on Adams Street • Construct permanent landscaped bumpouts at intersections in Uptown • Work with local businesses to install parklets in Uptown Creston • Convert alleyways between Adams Street and Montgomery Street into unique public gathering spaces • Convert a vacant lot in Uptown Creston into a pocket park • Design and install branded community wayfinding signage

CRESTON: WALKABILITY ASSESSMENT REPORT 3 MARCUS AMMAN ...... Southern Iowa Council of Governments LIST OF PARTICIPANTS NANCY ANTHONY ...... Greater Regional Health SAM BAIRD ...... McKinley Park Aquatic Center DANA DODGE ...... YMCA MILLIE FIEBELKORN ...... Bunn-O-Matic Corporation Date of walking audit: ELLEN GERHARZ ...... Creston Chamber of Commerce Aug. 23, 2018 KAYLA HOFFMAN ...... Greater Regional Health JOEL LAMB ...... Southern Iowa Council of Governments MIKE MOFFITT ...... Union County Development Association WAYNE PANTINI ...... Union County Development Association MANDY PARSONS ...... City of Creston ANNETTE RICE ...... Crestland Community Betterment Foundation MIKE TAYLOR ...... City of Creston KYLE WILSON ...... First National Bank LISA WILLIAMSON ...... City of Creston JIM CUSHING ...... Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield ETHAN STANDARD ...... Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield

CRESTON: WALKABILITY ASSESSMENT REPORT 4 WALKING AUDIT ROUTE

Participants completed a walking audit along a 1.5-mile route beginning and ending at the historic depot.

This audit included observations of existing walking conditions in both the historic Uptown area and the Adams Street corridor.

Source: Google Maps

The map above depicts the route participants observed during the walking audit workshop.

CRESTON: WALKABILITY ASSESSMENT REPORT 5 WALKING AND BIKING CONNECTIONS

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people who are physically active tend to live longer and have a lower risk for heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, depression, and some cancers.1 And while individuals must choose to be physically active, communities can make changes to their environment that help make this choice easier. Ensuring residents can access worksites, schools, homes, grocery stores, parks and trails by walking and biking will help encourage them to be more physically active in their everyday lives. Sidewalks

Installing sidewalks in key areas where there are gaps can help improve the connectivity of your community’s pedestrian network and promote physical activity. Future gaps can be prevented by adopting policies that require new development projects to install sidewalks as part of their construction plans. © Wellmark, Inc. 2018 © Wellmark, Inc. 2018

Once sidewalks have been installed, ensuring they are adequately maintained is another challenge that must be Uneven sidewalks can create dangerous Example of a sidewalk section that has addressed. Keeping sidewalks in good repair can be tripping hazards and barriers for people in recently been replaced. accomplished through the establishment of a sidewalk your community, especially for older maintenance program. adults, people with disabilities, and parents pushing strollers. • Prioritize construction of infill sidewalks where there are gaps in the current network

• Establish and enforce an annual sidewalk inspection and repair program

• Require sidewalks with new development projects

1 https://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/data/facts.htm

CRESTON: WALKABILITY ASSESSMENT REPORT 6 WALKING AND BIKING CONNECTIONS

Curb Ramps

In addition to gaps in the sidewalk network, missing curb ramps also represent impediments to people walking in your community. These situations can be remedied by updating curb ramps to ensure they are ADA-compliant.

In locations that do not have curb ramps, sidewalks can be difficult to navigate and pose significant challenges for parents pushing strollers and people using wheelchairs and other mobility devices. © Wellmark, Inc. 2018 Source: City of Altoona

• Install ADA-compliant curb ramps at all intersections Example of an intersection that is missing Example of a newly installed ADA- curb ramps. compliant curb ramp with yellow truncated domes.

CRESTON: WALKABILITY ASSESSMENT REPORT 7 WALKING AND BIKING CONNECTIONS

Trails

Ensuring that residents are able to access existing neighborhood parks and trails by walking and biking will help encourage them to be more physically active in their everyday lives. Recreational trails are one tool that communities can use to make exercise more convenient and nudge people toward establishing healthy habits. Creston has a foundational network of trails on the western edge of the city that is somewhat disconnected from the larger community. © Wellmark, Inc. 2018 Improving accessibility to these trails by connecting them to nearby neighborhoods and the Uptown business district could open up a new outlet for residents of Creston to get outdoors and naturally move more.

Some existing sidewalks along Adams Street are 8 feet wide, making them suitable for trail use today. However, these sidewalks begin to narrow and eventually disappear as they move west from Uptown Creston. Widening the sidewalks to a uniform width of 8 feet along Adams Avenue would establish a safe and comfortable trail connecting Uptown with McKinley Park and the existing trails that are already in place.

• Construct a trail along Adams Street between McKinley Park and Uptown Creston © Wellmark, Inc. 2018

Illustration of a new trail connection on Adams Street in McKinley Park.

CRESTON: WALKABILITY ASSESSMENT REPORT 8 WALKING AND BIKING CONNECTIONS

Road Diets

Sumner Avenue currently has more lanes for vehicular traffic than daily traffic counts warrant. This makes it a candidate for something known as a “road diet.” A road diet involves reducing the number of lanes for vehicles and using the extra space for a different use. Most cities use the extra space for bike lanes and to Source: Google Maps enhance street beautification with landscaped medians and bumpouts.

Sumner Avenue has already been identified by the Iowa Department of Transportation as a candidate for a road diet, with the potential to become a three-lane road with a center turning lane.2 that have undergone a road diet are more conducive to a vibrant community atmosphere.

Implement a road diet on • © Wellmark, Inc. 2018 Sumner Avenue

Illustration of a road diet with bike lanes and a landscaped median 2https://iowadot.gov/systems_planning/pr_g uide/Safety/StatewideScreeningforPotential on Sumner Avenue. LaneReconfiguration.pdf

CRESTON: WALKABILITY ASSESSMENT REPORT 9 WALKING AND BIKING CONNECTIONS

Roundabouts

There are many benefits to using roundabouts at certain intersections in your community. The Federal Highway Administration has proven that Roundabouts reduce crashes by eliminating vehicle conflict points and forcing traffic to slow down.3 Studies have found that roundabouts can provide up to a 90 percent reduction in fatal crashes and up to a 76 percent reduction in crashes causing injury. People walking and riding bikes also benefit from the use of roundabouts, as they are designed to improve safety for all users.4

In addition to enhancing safety, roundabouts can:

. reduce traffic delays . provide opportunities for beautification . reduce construction costs . reduce ongoing maintenance and operating costs Source: Google Maps Source: Google Maps . reduce fuel consumption . reduce air pollution Example of a roundabout installed at a Farm equipment easily maneuvers Many communities also choose to use the center islands for similar intersection in Gilbert, Iowa. through a roundabout in Fort Dodge, beautification efforts that include themed landscaping and Iowa. signage.

• Consider installing a roundabout at the intersection of Sumner Avenue and Taylor Street

3 https://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/intersection/innovative/roundabouts/ 4 https://iowadot.gov/traffic/roundabouts/roundabout-home

CRESTON: WALKABILITY ASSESSMENT REPORT 10 CREATING A SENSE OF PLACE

Placemaking is a creative process through which a community transforms and enhances underutilized spaces. The City of Creston has some unique opportunities to implement strategic placemaking concepts to enhance community pride and create places for residents to connect socially. This section of the report will identify some of those concepts that © Wellmark, Inc. 2018 could be applied in Creston. Streetscape

The entrance to your community creates a first impression that helps define it. These gateways are a good Source: Google Maps way to communicate that your community embraces an active lifestyle, and encourages not only Example of a street with bike lanes and a vehicle traffic, but pedestrian and landscaped median. bicycle use as well. Sprucing up some of the main entrance points to Uptown Creston would provide a sense of arrival that seems to be a

missing element today. © Wellmark, Inc. 2018

Invest in unique streetscaping • Illustration of streetscaping on Adams Street that includes new on Adams Street street lights, trees, bike lanes, and a landscaped median.

CRESTON: WALKABILITY ASSESSMENT REPORT 11 CREATING A SENSE OF PLACE

Bumpouts

Bumpouts are extensions of the sidewalk that take up road space not needed for vehicular traffic. Bumpouts that include various landscaping elements help create an inviting and comfortable walking environment. They also shorten crossing distances for pedestrians at intersections, decrease turning © Wellmark, Inc. 2018 vehicle speeds, and provide opportunities for street This painted bumpout can be found at the intersection of Maple beautification. Street and Adams Street. Creston has some intersections with painted bumpouts today. Additional intersections in Uptown Creston © Wellmark, Inc. 2017 may benefit from bumpouts. To increase their effectiveness and aesthetic appeal, the painted Landscaped bumpouts help create an bumpouts should gradually be inviting and comfortable walking replaced with permanent curbing environment. and landscaping as funding allows.

• Construct permanent

landscaped bumpouts at © Wellmark, Inc. 2017 intersections in Uptown Example of a landscaped bumpout with bike racks from Coralville, Iowa.

CRESTON: WALKABILITY ASSESSMENT REPORT 12 CREATING A SENSE OF PLACE

Parklets

In most communities, streets make up the majority of publically-owned land. Taking some of that space away from cars and dedicating it to people can be accomplished through the creation of parklets.

Parklets are temporary or permanent structures built in place © Wellmark, Inc. 2017 of existing parking spaces.5 Parklets may serve as social gathering spaces for community members by providing a relaxing space to sit and talk, enjoy a cup of morning coffee, or grab lunch with a friend. They also make a street more enjoyable © Wellmark, Inc. 2017 and interesting to walk along. Parklets can be constructed out of a variety of materials including This parklet is being installed by a traditional lumber, pallets, tires, restaurant to provide outdoor dining paint, and other unique decorations space for customers. and furniture.

• Work with local businesses to install parklets in Uptown © Wellmark, Inc. 2018 Creston Examples of downtown parklets built for outdoor café dining. 5 https://nacto.org/publication/urban-street- design-guide/interim-design-strategies/parklets

CRESTON: WALKABILITY ASSESSMENT REPORT 13 CREATING A SENSE OF PLACE

Alleyways

Providing outdoor opportunities and interesting things for people to see and do motivates them to get outside and explore their environments. This creates opportunities for residents to connect socially and be more physically active. Source: Google Maps Underused alleyways can be transformed into community This alleyway is an ideal location for a unique placemaking project. destinations by adding dining tables with umbrellas, a variety of vegetation, and overhead string lighting. These spaces should be designed to provide a unique sense © Jill Taylor 2018 of place within the community.

Example of a transformed alleyway from • Convert alleyways between Oskaloosa, Iowa. Adams Street and Montgomery Street into unique public gathering spaces

© Wellmark, Inc. 2017

Example of a formerly vacant alleyway that has been converted into a unique space with public art, lighting and landscaping.

CRESTON: WALKABILITY ASSESSMENT REPORT 14 CREATING A SENSE OF PLACE

Pocket Parks

Pocket parks are another form of placemaking that communities may pursue. They involve the use of landscaping, seating, and lighting to create a park-like atmosphere on a smaller scale in spaces between existing buildings.

Transforming areas that have Source: Google Maps limited current use can encourage social interaction and breathe life This underused parking lot near the Creston Depot in Uptown could back into spaces within a community. be transformed into a community greenspace.

© Wellmark, Inc. 2018

• Convert a vacant lot in Uptown Creston into a pocket park Murals are a great way to incorporate public art and create a unique sense of place that makes people more interested in walking around and exploring an area.

Source: Google Maps

Example of a community greenspace with trails, benches, picnic tables, and landscaping.

CRESTON: WALKABILITY ASSESSMENT REPORT 15 CREATING A SENSE OF PLACE

Wayfinding Signage

Wayfinding signs can be an important way to help people connect with their surroundings. Visitors and community members can be encouraged to walk around town with signs that give walking distances and times to shops, restaurants, libraries, hospitals, parks, and other local landmarks.

• Design and install branded community © Wellmark, Inc. 2017 © Wellmark, Inc. 2017 © Wellmark, Inc. 2017 wayfinding signage

Examples of branded wayfinding signage from other communities throughout Iowa.

CRESTON: WALKABILITY ASSESSMENT REPORT 16 PARTICIPANT DISCUSSION/NEXT STEPS

Following the walking audit, participants noted several elements that made walking more comfortable, as well as many elements that made walking more difficult or less safe.

The recommendations included in this report have been assembled to serve as a guide for your community to improve upon some of those elements and prioritize which ones are most important to pursue.

This report can be used as a tool to help build support from community leaders, elected officials, and the community at large to create a plan of action.

Citizen engagement is the best way to address many of the recommendations outlined in this report. All of the walking audit participants are encouraged to stay involved with ongoing efforts to improve walkability in Creston. Working © Wellmark, Inc. 2018 collaboratively will ensure that Creston continues on the path of becoming a vibrant, active and healthy region.

CRESTON: WALKABILITY ASSESSMENT REPORT 17 AFTERWORD

At Wellmark, our vision is to continuously improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We envision a future in which every generation experiences greater quality of health and improved quality of life. Many experts agree where we live is more impactful on our overall health than our own genetics. Our surroundings and environment prompt us to make decisions impacting our health without even realizing it. We created Healthy Hometown to provide evidence-based (proven) solutions that help communities structure their environment to nudge citizens toward healthy behaviors. When we engage in healthy behaviors, we have the opportunity to live our best life – and hopefully avoid serious illnesses. Making the healthy choice the easy choice is the best answer to keeping Iowans and South Dakotans healthy.

CRESTON: WALKABILITY ASSESSMENT REPORT 18 Important: This report, and the recommendations contained within, are provided by Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield (Wellmark) as suggestions about how walkability, bikeability and social interactions may be enhanced in your community. These are simply suggestions that your community can choose to implement at its own discretion. Wellmark bears no responsibility for any implemented suggestions and provides no guarantee of any particular results.

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