Prairie trail is a 1,000-acre mixed-use, mixed density new urbanist community in Ankeny, Iowa. The framework of the proposed community is organized around an extensive open space system and integrates a surface stormwater system into a network of more traditional parks and trails. Often described as green infrastructure, these integrated systems provide for improved water quality, wildlife habitat and trails, and traditional recreational activities as an integral part of stormwater management.

Although design manuals for surface stormwater systems are widely available, they tend to focus on the technical aspects of stormwater management, ignoring the urban context of the facility, and their potential for multiple-use. The Prairie Trail Stormwater Guidelines document identifies and details the important aspects and feasibility of establishing a surface stormwater system. The Guidelines are a heavily illustrated, non-technical bridge between engineering requirements and the community master plan.

Wenk Associates collaborated on the community master plan and led the development of the Prairie Trail Stormwater Guidelines. The guidelines are divided into four categories: Introduction, Development Types, BMP Fact Sheets, and Implementation Details.

Winner: Merit Award and a Land Stewardship Award in Planning and Urban Design from the Colorado Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects (CCASLA).