Keith Creek Corridor Study

Disciplines

  • Urban Planning

Types

  • Corridor Study

Location
Rockford, IL

a comprehensive vision for mobility, redevelopment, recreation, and more

GWA Dots

Region 1 Planning Council partnered with Studio GWA, The Lakota Group, Strand Associates, and Hey & Associates to conduct a corridor study of Keith Creek.  The study creates a framework for improvements and developments throughout the Keith Creek watershed, which includes two branches of creek channel and over 14 miles of drainage area.

a multi-faceted, equity-centered plan

The recommendations throughout the plan were centered around the following objectives:

        • Increasing corridor resiliency;
        • Mitigating flooding;
        • Improving equitable access to transportation options;
        • Highlighting Keith Creek as a unique natural resource; and
        • Supporting economic development.

from students to seniors, the study is shaped from a wide variety of perspectives

GWA Dots

pairing local knowledge with nationwide expertise

Studio GWA provided local expertise to the project, which was rooted in over twenty years of vision-casting, volunteering, and advocating for a revitalized creek that would become an asset in Rockford’s oldest neighborhoods.  Our team assisted with redevelopment scenarios, greenway planning, and community engagement.  We aimed to elevate marginalized voices who have been disproportionately impacted by flooding and other negative events.  Walking tours, listening sessions, and a block party yielded multiple opportunities for meaningful input.

The Keith Creek Corridor Study is the latest effort in creating a greenway that is vibrant, equitable, and resilient.  View the final draft of the study here.

related projects

Resilient Baraboo

Baraboo, WI

Urban Planning

The City of Baraboo selected Studio GWA and Redevelopment Resources to develop Resilient Baraboo, an economic resiliency plan that would help the community prepare, withstand, and recover from shocks to their economic system. While the...

Design rendering - Sterling Riverfront

Sterling Riverfront

Sterling, IL

Architecture, Urban Planning, Historic Tax Credit Consulting

The Lawrence Brothers and Stanley-National complexes are former manufacturing buildings that have shaped the southern gateway to Sterling, Illinois for over 100 years. The success of each enterprise was manifested in the sheer size of...

Urban Planning - Madison Street Corridor

Madison Street Corridor

Rockford, IL

Urban Planning

The Madison Street corridor is a key multimodal gateway into downtown Rockford with a variety of coexisting land uses. Small industries, recreational clubs, and landmark buildings like the Prairie Street Brewhouse support entrepreneurship, employment, and...