From classroom to community

College of Design students reimagine future of Boone parks and recreation spaces

December 19, 2025

AMES, Iowa – Thirty-six students in the College of Design's department of landscape architecture spent the semester working as if they’ve landed their first big client: the Boone City Park Commission.

Led by Tom Neppl, landscape architecture professor of practice, and Adina Cox, assistant professor, the course involves real-world projects that give students hands-on experience. This semester, students were challenged to help with the ongoing strategic planning process for Boone’s city parks and recreation sites, including walking and biking trails, natural park areas, conservation practices, community gardens, art installations and more.

“It is very difficult for our park board to be very forward-thinking. A majority of the time is spent trying to maintain what we already have,” said Mike Cornelis, Boone parks superintendent. “This class with its many students is able to cover much more ground in a condensed amount of time for several parks than what our board can for even one.”

Finding inspiration first

The class took a three-day field trip to Chicago, exploring several parks, gardens and play spaces, including iconic landscapes of architects and designers they’ve read about in their coursework. They stopped to sketch and enjoy the spaces of Millenium Park, Columbus Park, Garfield Park and Conservatory, and Sunshine Playscape in Lincoln Park.

Neppl said it was an important opportunity for students to see other sites outside of their neighborhood, community and state – as not all students had been to Chicago.

They also took the train to the offices of Hoerr Schaudt Landscape Architects, where they were greeted by Iowa State landscape architecture alum Joe Biegger and other members of the firm. The firm is known for its work in public garden design, parks, plazas and streetscapes. Students learned about the firm’s culture, projects and what they look for in candidates for employment.

“This visit was important to the trip because we knew some Boone residents are interested in nature play elements in their community parks, and we believe in the importance of nature play in the development of children and youth,” Neppl said.

Cultivating community input

To ensure their designs reflected Boone’s vision, the class listened to the commission’s priorities, engaged with residents and visited local schools.

“We’re getting on-the-ground opinions of how they use the parks. These are the people who, if I put a trail in, they’re going to use it,” said Josey Weaver, a fifth-year landscape architecture student.

They presented their ideas to the community in October at McHose Park, where they were able to also hear how they were received. Pending what career path the students take, Neppl said many of them will spend a lot of time in their career standing in front of a group of people, under the bright lights, presenting their ideas.

“It has been very impressive watching such creative people. These young adults are extremely talented and very imaginative,” Cornelis said.

They also visited several Boone schools – an elementary, middle school and high school – to engage with students through activities. One included having the elementary students draw a mural of what they’d like to see in their parks. Their drawings spanned from trains, trees and flowers to a pair of golden arches.

“Some were interested in the usability and safety of things like playgrounds while others were more concerned with visually beautifying the spaces,” Weaver said.

Thinking outside the box

Students were challenged to explore new ideas for resilient and regenerative design that reflect Boone’s cultural values and long-term vision.
Part of her goal for her project was to provide meaningful and interactive art installations for residents of all ages. She sifted through old newspaper articles of business openings and closings in Boone for ideas, including roller-skating rinks, drive-in movie theaters and any other activities that get people to “mix generations.”

“Sometimes we are more free, as aspiring professionals but still students, to propose things a little crazier,” Weaver said.

Weaver also drew inspiration from her hometown of Jefferson. The town of about 4,000 people received national recognition for its investment in public art and earned one of three Great American Main Street awards for 2025. She hopes she can help Boone city planners visualize the possibilities and “realize that smaller towns can do what the big cities are doing,” she said. “Real people might get inspired. It feels really exciting.”

Putting theory into practice

Adam Larson, a fifth-year landscape architecture student, was pleased to learn the residents really valued nature. Growing up in the country surrounded by cornfields near Sioux City, Larson developed a passion for preserving natural environments at a young age.

With a minor in sustainability, Larson is focused on ecological stormwater management. A rendering he created for Lowell Park in Boone hung near his desk with trails and boardwalks forming an exact mirror image of the nearby Des Moines River. The paths would increase accessibility throughout the park and shape different nature trail experiences ranging from large swaths of prairie, lush wetlands and shady woodlands.

“I’m interested in creating more harmonious landscapes that are ecologically sound that benefit both the people and the land,” he said.

Cornelis said he is hopeful the students’ work will have a big impact on the city’s future.

“I feel if we can use even one of the ideas that come from this class, it is a win. The Boone Parks Department and our citizens will be able to see for themselves the different and creative ideas there are to improve a specific targeted park,” he said.