Dakota County Parks is currently working to update its 2050 vision plan, the guiding document that oversees development of existing parks, the creation of new parks, and the goals for the park system as a whole. The previous 2030 Park System Plan was adopted in 2008 and was a chapter within the county’s 2030 Comprehensive Land Use Plan. Both plans list five guiding principles to “shape the future of Dakota County: promote sustainability, connect, collaborate, stimulate economic vitality, and grow and nurture people.”
The project overview for the updated 2050 Park System Plan lists various goals for the update including adapting to changing demographics and trends in recreation, addressing need for new parks, greenways and trails, evaluating how parks and greenways serve the community, and the development of system-wide goals for engagement, partnership, and co-management with the Dakota County Indigenous community.
Part of the impetus behind revamping the plan now is simply that, “there have been a lot of changes in the 15 years,” since the previous plan was adopted in 2008, said Principal Planner for the Dakota County 2050 Vision Plan Lil Leatham. Changes in Dakota County like the growing senior population and increased diversity mean that goals set in 2008 might not reflect what the community wants today. In specific, Leatham mentioned adventure recreation, a broad category of outdoor recreation including paddleboarding, mountain biking and rock climbing that has grown in popularity since the previous plan was adopted.
Other factors that fed into the update include the fact that the 2008 plan barely mentioned climate change which can be increasingly seen in Dakota County parks through beach closures, invasive species, and lack of winter snow like the warm winter of 2023-2024.
In 2008 when the 2030 plan was adopted, a list of goals for the next decade were laid out including: adding popular nature-based recreation to all parks, adding signature activities to parks, the creation of the new regional park Vermillion Highlands, more communication about park activities, building a network of greenways similar to a road hierarchy, restoration and improvement of landscapes in Dakota County parks, and the creation of “green infrastructure.” In updating the parks plan, progress on these goals including the opening of Vermillion Highlands and the continued creation of greenways across the county can be further expanded upon.
The update to the park system plan is a broad overview of county parks and the long-terms goals within them. This plan proceeds two more specific plans that are expected to be developed in the coming year: the Natural Resources Management Plan and the Visitor’s Services Plan. The Natural Resources Management Plan and the Visitor’s Service Plan are five-year plans that will contain specific metrics for improvement across Dakota County Parks including metrics like acres of land restored, number of events held, and number of people reached with outreach, according to Leatham.
Dakota County Parks is soliciting public comment in various forms in order to shape the 2050 plan. Commentors can provide feedback through an online survey and interactive map until Sept. 22. When it comes to county goals versus public feedback, “It’s always a balancing act,” said Leatham. While a draft of the plan is expected to be presented to the public in January will the opportunity for public comment and change to the plan, “we encourage more participation earlier,” said Leatham, as the plan is far more mailable in its early stages than once it has been drafted.
To participate in the survey or submit comments to the interactive map or vision board, visit the Dakota County 2050 Vision Plan website at https://zanassoc.mysocialpinpoint.com/dakota-county-2050-vision-plan