Thanks to Mike’s Butcher Shop for their support. Hosting a dinner party? Simply looking for something quick and easy? From fresh cuts to grill-ready kabobs, you’ll find everything you need at Mike’s.
Dakota County is asking for community input on their 25-year parks vision plan. The 82-page document covers goals and plans for enriching current parks and expanding with new parks, trails, and other protected spaces.
- What is it: A plan for the future of Dakota County parks, greenways, and natural spaces over the next 25 years.
- Process: Dakota County has developed the plan over the past year and is seeking public engagement. They hope to finalize the plan this summer.
- Feedback: There’s a community open house on Thursday, May 8 from 5:30-7 p.m. at Lebanon Hills Regional Park Visitor Center or you can take an online survey.
- Why: While the county’s population has grown 12% between 2008 and 2022, the visits to the parks and greenways have grown 220%.
“This plan represents a bold step forward in ensuring that our cherished green spaces and our connections to them remain vibrant and relevant for generations to come,” wrote Dakota County Director of Parks Niki Geisler in the plan’s introduction.
Impacts on West St. Paul
Current: Dakota County has an existing presence in West St. Paul with Thompson County Park and the River-to-River Greenway. While Thompson Park is one of the smallest of the county’s seven parks, it has the second highest number of visitors. The plan proposes expanded programming and facilities to better serve the growing population.
Future: The plan looks at potential new parks and greenways, including some in and near West St. Paul. There’s potential to combine Thompson County Park with South St. Paul’s Kaposia Park and Kaposia Landing into a larger regional park. There’s also potential for a Highway 52 trail that would stretch from West St. Paul to the southern end of Inver Grove Heights.
We keep the community informed thanks to the generous support of our members.