The City of Windsor Heights University Avenue Improvements project was awarded 1000 Friends of Iowa’s 2021 Best Development Award for the Transportation/Complete Streets category at their awards ceremony Thursday, January 27, 2022. The awards showcase projects that employ the principles of smart growth and utilize the most resilient, efficient, and thoughtful development practices in different categories including:
- Renovated Commercial
- Transportation/Complete Streets
- Innovative Leadership (Small and Large Community categories)
- Renewable Energy
- And much more!
The Best Development Awards not only recognize communities and businesses throughout the state doing impeccable work, but they also cause a ripple effect – educating and mobilizing individuals to dream big about responsible land use and serve as a shining example of what’s possible through smart, practical land use policy in Iowa.
The City of Windsor Heights inquired for many years about redesigning University Avenue to provide a more pedestrian and business-friendly roadway. This major roadway runs the entire length of the city, so many opinions of how the roadway should look exist.
Bolton & Menk examined previous studies and created a plan to meet city and surrounding area needs. The roadway was converted to a three-lane roadway from a four-lane configuration with the addition of a 12-foot multi-use trail, new street lighting, wayfinding, and other amenities that provide a more user-friendly district. The project included funding through the Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, Iowa DNR, and various city funds.
Congratulations to all the award winners!
