Local military veterans, federal and state officials, and Dakota County leaders gathered Oct. 15 to celebrate the first phase of the new Veterans Memorial Greenway.
The 5-mile greenway is being built in three phases through Inver Grove Heights and Eagan. Each phase includes memorial plazas that highlight military service and sacrifice.
Dakota County is home to 22,000 veterans — the second-largest veteran population among Minnesota counties. Veteran advisors helped develop the greenway plan with the goal providing a place for healing and sharing veterans' stories.
“Having that experience of being able to be out and enjoying the beauty of nature and then also thinking about the people that make this state so incredible — especially our veterans — I think is just such a great idea and such a great accomplishment," U.S. Sen. Tina Smith said.
The celebration took place at a new greenway tunnel beneath 105th Street in Inver Grove Heights, providing a safer route for visitors.
“This greenway, although it recognizes our veterans, it's an important part to enhance the pedestrian safety and improve access to our parks and greenways throughout the county," Dakota County Commissioner Bill Droste said.
The first phase forms the central section of the greenway, running for 2 miles between Alameda Path and Rich Valley Park in Inver Grove Heights. Memorial plazas in this section will include:
- Places We Served: Locations of Dakota County veterans' service near an underpass sculpted to resemble a military bunker.
- In the Service: The greenway's main memorial with a Purple Heart-shaped plaza for traveling memorials, panels honoring women in the military and more.
- MIA Prairie: A restored prairie honoring Minnesota's soldiers who are missing in action and prisoners of war.
“We all know this is a living tribute to our veterans," U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar said. “We have the freedom to enjoy these trails and take morning bike rides because of our veterans — because generation after generation of veterans and service members put their lives on the line to defend our nation."
The greenway is funded with $10 million in state bonding, nearly $6 million in federal funds and $8.4 million in non-levy county dollars. It also had support from local cities and schools.
“This is one of those wonderful examples where we have every level of government partnering together," Dakota County Board Chair Joe Atkins said.
The second phase of greenway construction will begin in 2025. The completed greenway will connect Lebanon Hills Regional Park and the Mississippi River Greenway.
“This is a really big deal, this project," state Rep. Liz Reyer said. “This is a place of help and healing. It's a place where our community can come together. We can bike. We can walk. We enjoy nature. We can be reminded of the contributions of veterans."
Dakota County's persistence made the project possible, said U.S. Rep. Angie Craig, calling the broad support for the project “extraordinary."
“I'm humbled and honored to have been part of this project," Craig said. “And for those veterans who are here today, I just want you to know we know your service and sacrifice to our nation. We understand it, and we will always stand beside you."