The 2024 Chaplain Schmitt Island Development Plan builds on prior planning efforts including the Chaplain Schmitt Island Master Plan, Placemaking Plan, and Design Guidelines.
Commissioned by the Dubuque Racing Association (DRA), the purpose of the development plan is to research the island’s ecological and natural environment, analyze the floodplain, conduct market and economic assessments, evaluate economic feasibility, review infrastructure needs, and estimate costs for potential development. It provides a comprehensive framework to prioritize, clarify, and move development forward, helping to create a unique, one-of-a-kind island destination on the Mississippi.