Graduate students in the School of Urban and Regional Planning developed a market analysis for a kayak park on Cedar River and made recommendations for linking the new park to downtown. Students also drafted recommendations to enhance the quality of water in Cedar River through water quality credits trading.

This project was based off of Charles City's then desire to create a riverfront park following the floods of 2008, and integrating the recommendations from Iowa State University and Recreation Engineering and Planning to develop a waterfront attraction.