Seniors Focus Group
Hills & Dales Community Center
Imagine Dubuque Group Discussion
October 25, 2016
From creative campus-style senior housing to opportunities to bring seniors and kids together, sharp ideas were flowing at the Imagine Dubuque Senior Workshop held on October 25th from 12:30 to 1:30pm at the Hills & Dales Community Center.
Conversation Takeaways + Highlights
More Community Centers
- Integrate kids with seniors, “We love seeing the babies and kids here.”
- Great food is a major plus
- Integrated activities, “Halloween parade, etc. wherein the different age groups and need levels interact is very nice.”
- Ruby Sutton Multicultural Family Center is a plus
- Health care services are sufficient
More Housing Types for Seniors
- A creative, campus-style approach, “Something where all the houses face into a centrally shared patio space.”
- There are waiting lists at almost all of the existing senior apartments.
- More single-family homes that cater to seniors (ADA accessible, single-level or ground floor amenities including washer/dryer)
- Housing that caters to senior couples with varying needs is of growing importance
- Meals-to-go offers greater flexibility
Better selection of sit down restaurants
- Panera-style restaurants are great, but too much work to get your food
- More buffets
- Tony Roma’s and Houlihan’s is a plus
Transportation + Public Works
- Chavenelle Road is very rough – should be repaved
- The alleys are in better shape than the roads
- Need better sound barrier along Route 20 for the residents living alongside there
- Have to be familiar with one-ways downtown (i.e. turning across thru lanes of traffic can be a problem)
- Maintain City flowerbeds near Port of Dubuque
- The detention basin near 32nd Street is overgrown
Parks
- Eagle Point Park band shell needs new seating, and overall park could use enhancement
- Volunteers or workers’ program could improve the parks
- Heritage Trail is popular among young people
Destinations
- Arboretum is fantastic, Japanese Garden is a nice escape
- 4th Street Elevator
- The Hills & Dales Community Center
- Riverfront / Museum
- Casino
- Shot Tower
- Lock and Dam #11
- Derby Grange Golf and Recreation
- Beecher’s Ice Cream
Safety
- Area around Jackson Park needs to be safer, “I don’t shop at the grocery store over there after 3pm.”
- Seniors can be looked at as targets so safety is important
Business
- Need to attract more businesses / manufacturing jobs
- Need the type of jobs that will bring younger couples to Dubuque
Shopping
- We need to see things before we buy them
- We don’t shop online
- Kennedy mall is just o.k.
- Prefer Kohl’s in Asbury Plaza Shopping Center
- Shop in St. Cloud, MN, Madison, Wi, Davenport, IA
- Grocery needed in Washington neighborhood
Buildings for Adaptive Reuse
- Old bowling alley on Finger Street
- Old publishing building
- H&W Motor Plant on Jackson (the roof fell in)
Dubuque’s Biggest Asset
- Friendly
- Perfect place to live and raise a family
- Beautiful
- Investment in the arts
Dubuque’s Biggest Change
- Riverfront
- 2nd Street Bridge
- Streets are better than before
Dubuque’s Biggest Challenge
- Race and bullying
- Better paying jobs to keep younger generation here
Those with Special Needs
- Biggest challenge is overwhelmingly transportation for those who can live independently
- Jobs offered to those with special needs at Papa John’s, Texas Roadhouse, grocery bagging, recycling center
Connect Today
- Share your ideas on the future of Dubuque
- View all the great ideas submitted to date from fellow Dubuquers
- Download the free project app
- Take the Economic Prosperity Quick Poll
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