Second-year student Charlie Cowell has been chosen for the RDG Design Residency in Des Moines to be held October 10th-12th. This year’s residency will focus on “Healthy Parks, Places, People.” Charlie is one of ten outstanding students who was selected from across the Midwest. The topic was formed from the challenge currently facing RDG Planning & Design and the Iowa Park Foundation: strategically planning for the state of Iowa’s 21st Century Parks System. As part of the Residency the students will have a direct involvement in how $300 million in park redevelopment is used over the next 10 years.

The Residency brings together students with a variety of backgrounds to generate a larger discussion on the projects. Charlie will be one of two Planners on the team and the only one with a specific economic development concentration. The project culminates in a presentation to key members of the Iowa Parks Foundation, community leaders, and the public late afternoon on Oct. 12th, followed by a reception for and dialogue with the Residents.  

RDG Planning and Design is an agency that includes architects, landscape architects, engineers, artists and planners. Two of our alums work there including Gary Lozano who is a Partner and Lorin Ditzler who’s a Planner.