Minnesota River Greenway

This master plan conveys a vision to establish a greenway following the south side of the Minnesota River valley from Burnsville to St. Paul. Like other greenways being planned in Dakota County, the Minnesota River Greenway is envisioned to provide multiple benefits to water quality, habitat enhancement, recreation and non-motorized transportation.

The Minnesota River Greenway travels 17 miles through Burnsville, Eagan, Mendota Heights, Mendota and Lilydale before landing at St. Paul’s Lilydale Regional Park, where trails continue to Harriet Island and downtown St. Paul. This corridor is part of the larger Minnesota Valley State Trail corridor planned by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources that will travel from Le Sueur to St. Paul.

The greeways is divided into four segments. The four segments are:

Segment 1 – Lilydale Regional Park to I-494 (5 miles)
Segment 2 – I-494 to Cedar Avenue/ Trunk Highway (TH) 77 (4 miles)
Segment 3 – Cedar Avenue/ TH 77 to Interstate I-35W (3.5 miles)
Segment 4 – I-35W to Scott County (4 miles)

For more information, read the Minnesota River Greenway Master Plan.

Public comment - Environmental Assessment Worksheet

Dakota County is planning to build a 3.7-mile section of the Minnesota River Greenway in Fort Snelling State Park, and the public can review environmental impacts of the project.

The county will partner with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources on the new greenway section from the trailhead near Cedar Avenue in Burnsville to the trailhead at Lone Oak Road in Eagan. The proposed trail is primarily located in Eagan within an unimproved area of Fort Snelling, south of the Minnesota River.

An Environmental Assessment Worksheet, which describes the project and its impacts, was available for public review and comment. Through review of the assessment, including public and agency comments, Dakota County issued a negative declaration, finding that the project will not result in significant environmental impacts and an environmental impact statement is not required.

Minnesota River Greenway Environmental Assessment Worksheet
Environmental Assessment Worksheet – Findings of Fact and Conclusion

Cultural Resources Interpretive Plan

The Minnesota River Cultural Resources Interpretive Plan will guide historic and cultural resource interpretation along Dakota County’s Minnesota River Greenway through engaging, interactive installations. The project was funded, in part, by the State of Minnesota from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund through the Minnesota Historical Society.

Minnesota River Interpretive Plan
Executive Summary

Work on Segment 2

Dakota County completed a feasibility study on Segment 2. The study determined an alignment for the greenway and estimated construction costs.

The county applied for and was awarded federal funding for the construction of the first phase of Minnesota River Greenway – Segment 2. The first phase begins at its connection with Big Rivers Regional Trail (BRRT) at Interstate 494 and Highway 13 to the extension of County Road 26 (Lone Oak Road) in Eagan.

The county has contracted with LHB, Inc. for design services for the first phase of Minnesota River Greenway – Segment 2. The proposed project will include the following:

Construction of 1.2 miles of 10-foot-wide paved multi-use trail along the west side of Highway 13
Construction of a 'neighborhood gateway' along the west side of Highway 13 at County Road 26 which includes a parking lot, access to the first phase of Minnesota River Greenway – Segment 2 and seasonal restroom facilities
Provides for future connection to the next phase of Minnesota River Greenway – Segment 2 from County Road 26 to Cedar Avenue/Highway 77