Active Living & Biophilic Design Plan

This guide provides principals and policies to encourage the residents of Marion, Iowa to be active and interact with nature on a regular basis. It focuses on design policies of active living, active transportation and biophilic design.

Community Branding Action Plan

Completed in 2015, the branding plan was created to set Marion apart from the 946 other communities in Iowa. It also assisted in developing a unified marketing effort with Marion's stakeholder organizations: Marion Chamber of Commerce, Uptown Marion and Marion Economic Development Corp. 

Comprehensive Plan

Adopted in 2025, the comprehensive plan is the City's official policy guide for physical improvement and development. The plan considers not only the current needs and issues within the community, but also presents a plan for guiding new improvements and developments for the next 20 years.

Community-wide Wayfinding Plan 

Completed in 2025, this plan provides guidance for the implementation of a wayfinding system within the City of Marion. 

Hotel Market Feasibility Study

Adopted in 2025,  this study was completed to evaluate the feasibility of constructing a new hotel. The study encompassed an analysis of the current lodging market, potential demand generators, and the economic impact of such a project.

Housing Market Analysis

Completed in 2022, this study analyzed the demographic and economic data, and housing market conditions, and provides calculations of housing demand between 2022 and 2030. It also suggests housing product types and amounts necessary to satisfy current demand and the demand of projected growth. 

Indian Creek Master Plan

Finalized in 2022, this document helps to connect neighborhoods, public facilities and community amenities such as parks and trails, to Indian Creek. This plan also addresses water quality and flood resiliency, enhancement of recreational opportunities throughout the creek corridor, and ways to support economic development and improve quality of life. 

Lowe Park Art Plan

Completed in 2015, this document expands on the Lowe Park Master Plan in regards to integrating art and design into various projects and development of new areas of the park. 

Lowe Park Master Plan

Updated in 2023, this planning effort was completed to respect the past, understand the present and dream for the future. 

Marion Trails Master Plan

Adopted in 2014, this plan provides a framework for future investments in trails and on-street bikeways, with focus on improving connectivity to local destinations, tying into the regional trail network, improving safety and accessibility for all trail users, supporting economic development, and improving quality of life for residents. 

Neighborhood at Indian Creek

The Neighborhood at Indian Creek is a vision of mixed use development with Midwestern architectural character and a neighborhood feel developed through neo-traditional planning.  A primary feature of the Neighborhood is its walk-ability... the pedestrian takes precedence. This Plan, originally adopted in 2009, underwent a revamp which focused on development trends, external development pressures (new Linn-Mar School, Prospect Meadows, and the Squaw Creek Crossing development), community interests, and changing property ownership while considering future land uses and zoning regulations. 

Parks Master Plan

In 2016, the City of Marion developed and adopted this master plan to guide the next ten years for parks, recreation and aquatic development within the City. 

Public Art Master Plan

Finalized in 2012, recommends a public art initiative and an urban design initiative for the City. It also provides a list of administrative recommendations including staffing and funding sources. 

Reforestation Plan

Due to the 2020 Derecho and substantial loss of Marion's tree canopy, the City established this project to develop a reforestation plan. This document provides a ten-year roadmap to grow the canopy by 35%. 

Safe Routes to School Plan - MISD

 The Marion Independent School District and the City of Marion have coordinated efforts to create a blue print that summarizes community input, education, and MISD administrative staff experience, along with the latest techniques and strategies to support safe travel to and from school for students and staff. The plan is designed to layout policy and infrastructure improvements that can be made in the short and long term best interest of the students and the district as a whole.