Pocahontas County Trails Master Plan
Pocahontas County, IA | Sports + Recreation
Overview
Situated between Wright and Buena Vista Counties in northern Iowa, Pocahontas County partnered with ISG to develop a strategic, 25-Year Trails Master Plan.
Opportunity
Pocahontas County’s central location and abundance of natural habitat, including multiple designated wildlife areas, lakes, and parks, make it a great location for residents and visitors to explore the environment. The lack of trail connectivity between the County’s plentiful outdoor amenities and the adjacent counties presented stakeholders with an exciting long-term improvement opportunity.
Solution
ISG’s master planning and design services focused on supporting transportation, education, recreation, tourism, and economic growth within the region, and included an all-encompassing evaluation of the County landscape and existing trails, parks, and recreational spaces. Throughout the process, the team proposed and mapped several new trail locations, eventually developing a prioritized timeline for eight priority corridor trail segments. The result is a long-range master plan with new trails that span the county, incorporate the existing 1.9-mile Laurens Trail, and connect to two adjacent trails—fulfilling the County’s vision for an inclusive, safe, and accessible trails network that supports community health.