VISION BOARDING. Visit Eau Claire is creating its first Destination Master Plan – a blueprint for the next 10 years of tourism, economic and cultural development in the wider E.C. area – and needs resident feedback. One way to offer feedback is through its Resident Sentiment Survey, now open online. (Carson Park was host to the 2026 Eaux Claires Festival this summer, pictured)

The wider Eau Claire area’s tourism organization, Visit Eau Claire, kicked off its first-ever Destination Master Plan (DMP) project – with strategic planning firm Coraggio Group – earlier this fall. The DMP aims to create a sort of blueprint for the next decade of development for the region, which includes the cities of Eau Claire, Altoona and Osseo, and the towns of Union and Wheaton.

The DMP process is organized into three phases: “Get Clear, Get Focused, Get Moving.” The first phase, occurring now through the end of November, focuses on data review, community sessions and surveys – and the latter just dropped.

In a media release shared Monday, Nov. 2, Visit Eau Claire announced the Resident Sentiment Survey is now available online (there is no exact date for the survey’s closing) and should take about eight minutes or so to complete.

“The project concepts in the survey are simply there to gauge community interest, test ideas, and establish an accurate baseline for what matters most to our region today.”

KENZI HAVLICEK

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, VISIT EAU CLAIRE

Open to anyone who lives and/or works in any of the five communities part of the DMP, the survey asks a few sets of questions, beginning with baseline info – like where the respondent lives and/or works in the region, and for how many years they've done so – before moving into quality of life topics.

The third set of questions begins with the following statement: “As you may know, the Eau Claire area has added several new facilities over the last decade — including the Pablo Center at the Confluence (a performing arts venue that opened in 2018) and the Sonnentag Center (a multi-use event, sports, and wellness complex that opened in 2024).”

“As the region looks ahead, we’re interested in what residents think would be a good next investment,” the survey says.

That section goes on to ask what type of “major capital investment” the respondent would most like to see in the region, with choices ranging from an indoor aquatic center, an outdoor event venue (like a riverfront amphitheater), and a convention center for large events.

The final section of questions focuses on the convention center topic, asking what types of things the respondent may associate with this type of project – including more local jobs, traffic or parking issues, etc. – and if the respondent knew “the Eau Claire area is evaluating a potential new or expanded convention center” as part of the DMP. 

Respondents are asked to offer additional thoughts and demographic information before the survey ends. There is an option to opt into a giveaway for one of five $100 e-Bucks gift cards from the Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce, before closing out of the survey.

As Visit Eau Claire Executive Director Kenzi Havlicek shared, “The purpose of this phase isn’t to validate a predetermined checklist or build momentum for any single pre-selected project. The project concepts in the survey are simply there to gauge community interest, test ideas, and establish an accurate baseline for what matters most to our region today.

“Ultimately, resident feedback will directly shape the plan and help us identify our true tourism development priorities,” she said.

As of early November, the survey had received 448 completed responses, surpassing the target minimum of 400, Havlicek said. Visit Eau Claire, Coraggio Group and its research partner, Downs & St. Germain, will look to keep that momentum going to ensure feedback is gained from all five partner municipalities.

Per the DMP's website, the next phase of the project, “Get Focused,” will run December 2026-March 2027. This phase will result in a draft plan and set of priorities to be shared with the wider community.

The third phase is currently slated for April-June 2027, when the DMP will be finalized.

The Resident Sentiment Survey is now available to complete online • Survey responses are anonymous, though an email address is required to enter in the e-Bucks giveaway offered upon completion of the survey (you do not need to enter in the giveaway) • Learn more about the Destination Master Plan online at www.visiteauclaire.com/destination-master-plan