Residents in Rock Valley will have a chance tonight to help shape the future of land impacted by the 2024 flood, as the city continues its partnership with Dordt University.
The community input meeting is scheduled for this evening and is part of an ongoing effort to determine how properties included in the FEMA Buyout Program will be used moving forward.
The partnership, first announced earlier this month, brings students from Dordt University into the planning process to develop long-term concepts for the area.
Now, City Administrator Tom Van Maanen says the focus is shifting to gathering more detailed feedback from residents.
From Planning to Public Input
Van Maanen says once buyouts are completed, the city is expected to acquire roughly 40 acres of land, making community input critical in determining what comes next.
Because the properties fall within the floodplain, federal regulations will limit future development — making long-term planning especially important.
City leaders say the project is focused on creating resilient, usable space while honoring the community’s past, with an emphasis on long-term recovery and community benefit.
Planning During FEMA Process
While the city continues to await final FEMA approval on the broader buyout plan, Van Maanen says this partnership allows Rock Valley to move forward proactively.
He says the goal is to have a clear vision in place so the city can act quickly once approvals are finalized.
The Dordt students will use community feedback, including more than 500 survey responses already collected, to help shape that plan.
Honoring what was Lost
City leaders say the project is not just about land use, but also about recognizing the neighborhood that will no longer exist.
Ideas Beginning to Take Shape
While still in the early stages, some ideas are emerging — including recreational uses for the space.
He adds that the Dordt partnership is helping the city explore those possibilities more deeply.
A Key Step in Recovery
Van Maanen says combining student research with community input will help guide what he calls a critical final phase of recovery.
Tonight’s meeting runs from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at the Parkview Event Center in Rock Valley.
