Politics & Government

Concept Plan Unveiled for New Regional Park in Dakota County

A new 456-acre regional park in Empire Township could provide outdoor recreation and education opportunities for county residents.

It’s not often that Dakota County park planners get a shot at building a new regional park from scratch.

But that’s exactly what is happening with a new, 456-acre park Dakota County officials are planning to develop on a pristine tract of land in Empire Township. Earlier this week, the county released three alternative concept plans for the park, which hasn’t yet been named. If all goes according to plan, the park could come before the Dakota County Board of Commissioners and the Metropolitan Council later this year for approval.

Located west of Hwy 52 near 170th St. E., the proposed park would include features like year-round hiking and skiing trails, picnic areas, an off-leash dog park, a Frisbee golf course, an education facility, wildlife viewing areas and even cabins in which visitors could stay. Two of the concepts proposed for the park also include community gardens and an educational food production area.

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Although the proposed park is only 456 acres, it would be adjacent to the 2,800-acre Vermilion Highlands modified Wildlife Management Area and agricultural research land owned by the University of Minnesota. Altogether, the three areas total roughly 4,000 acres, Dakota County Park Director Steve Sullivan said.

The park, Sullivan believes, will fill a “hole” in the metropolitan area's seven-county regional park system. The nearby communities of Lakeville and Farmington are the “fastest growing population centers in Dakota County,” Sullivan said, and the creation of this park will connect those residents with a significant recreational resource. The proposed park is also at the intersection of two greenway trail corridors, one of which would link the new park to the existing Lebanon Hills Regional Park.

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If that wasn’t enough, the site itself is ecologically important, Sullivan and Project Manager Mary Jackson said. The area the park encompasses marked the southern edge of the last glacial advances into Minnesota, Jackson said. The receding glaciers deposited plenty of sediment in the area, making the landscape hilly and dynamic. At the center of the proposed park, Jackson added, is a diverse wetland complex and 25-acre lake. The east side of the site contains several acres of remnant prairie.

The Dakota County Capital Improvement Plan includes roughly $1.3 million in funding for the park. That money is derived from the state and subject to legislative approval, Sullivan said, and would cover the initial development of the park facilities. Because it is early in the park’s master planning process, Dakota County officials do not yet have a total cost estimate for the park.

Empire Township Town Board Chairman Terry Holmes believes the park, if developed, could help the township maintain its rural character, while providing a recreational outlet for neighboring communities. The board, he said, has supported Dakota County’s efforts ever since the county purchased a tract of land several years ago to begin the initial stages of development for the park. On Tuesday night, Sullivan presented the three alternative concept plans to the board members.

“We thought it would be excellent to preserve that area,” Holmes said. “We realistically know that growth comes, but we’ve tried to maintain a control on that so it comes slower.”

WHAT’S NEXT?

The county plans to hold a public open house at 5 p.m. on April 18 at the Farmington Library to gather feedback and reactions on the three alternative concepts for the park. County officials are also encouraging members of the public to view the concept plans online and send feedback and comments to planning@co.dakota.mn.us.


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