About Re-Imagine Comiskey

Community Engagement

In January 2020, the Leisure Services Department, in partnership with a consulting team, launched the Re-Imagine Comiskey campaign to gather input from the community on how to improve the park. 

Multiple community engagement events were held to identify potential improvements including community input sessions, focus groups, and a music-infused Hip Hop PARKitecture workshop designed for children ages 10-17. At the workshop, attendees explored city park planning and urban design through Hip Hop culture and worked in small groups to create a design concept for Comiskey Park. Residents were also invited to share their ideas through the Re-imagine Comiskey online community survey. Paper surveys were made available at locations throughout the community including the Multicultural Family Center, Crescent Community Health Center, the Carnegie Stout Public Library, and others.

During the campaign, several stakeholder groups were engaged including the local neighborhood associations, the Dubuque Community School District, youth organizations, and non-profit community partners.

Engagement Results

The result of the community engagement sessions and survey indicated that residents felt the playground, basketball courts, and an open field for sports, lawn games, and recreation were important amenities to keep and upgrade at the park. Other desired amenities included a splash pad, picnic areas, grills, more seating, and pavilions that can be reserved by the community.

The Community's Vision

In early March 2020, the Leisure Services Department and the Re-Imagine Comiskey consulting team shared the vision the community developed for the expanded and improved Comiskey Park. The public was invited to review two draft concepts and provide comments, thoughts, and reactions to help shape the final park design.

• Concept 1
• Concept 2

Public Input: Community Online Survey

In May 2021, the City conducted an online survey to gather public input on playground and splash pad equipment. The City received 320 responses and used the data to inform the types of equipment and activities that are included in the final playground and splash pad design.

Final Park Plan and Online Community Survey

The Leisure Services Department and the consulting team shared the park master plan in early 2021.

Re-Imagine Comiskey Park Master Plan

Download Master Plan Site Design

Phase 1 Improvements

 Phase 1 of the Re-Imagine Comiskey improvements were constructed in 2022 and early 2023. The project included a new playground, splash pad and a basketball court, walkway additions, seating walls, park amenities such as litter receptacles, bike racks, and picnic tables, one small and one larger shade picnic shelter, trees, landscaping, a bioswale, native seeding, and other improvements. The project was finished and a ribbon-cutting and community celebration was held on June 29, 2023.

Phase 1 Funding

The City of Dubuque was awarded a $508,000 Land and Water Conservation Fund Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program grant to expand outdoor recreational opportunities in the park. That grant will be matched with City of Dubuque capital improvement funding.  The Wellmark Foundation awarded the project $100,000 as a part of Wellmark’s Large MATCH Grant Program, to be used toward the addition of a splash pad and expansion of basketball courts at the park and a $25,000 America In Bloom/CN EcoConnexions From the Ground Up grants for trees, native forbes, and grass seed, shrubs, and flowers. 

Phase 2 Improvements

Plans for Phase 2 of the Re-Imagine Comiskey master plan include paved walkways, landscaping, and additional basketball courts, shaded picnic areas, and landscaping. A schedule for Phase 2 is dependent on funding and has not yet been determined.