dakota county newsletter - fall/winter 2014

county newsletter fall/winter 2014

MEET YOUR NEW PARK

TRANSPORTATIONENVIRONMENT · SERVICES RECREATION · RESOURCES

AND MORE…

IN BRIEFAT YOURSERVICE Help in getting what you need Page 3

COMMUNITYRAISE A READERThe road to reading4

PARKSPROGRAMS AND EVENTSFall–Winter 2014

OUR WORK

MAKING THE GRADE

Tools to help your child ace their school projects

Page 7

2 | www.dakotacounty.us | fall/winter 2014

Page 3IN BRIEFDiscover a new trail for Spring Lake, a new transit line for Burnsville, and an array of services at each of our service and license centers.

Page 7OUR WORKWe’re here for you all year long — making tax season simpler, the snowy season safer and back-to-school a success for your kids.

Page 11COMMUNITYWe appreciate everything our veterans do, and we’re prepared to give back to every single one of them. Learn about the different benefits available for our military members.

Page 15PARKSRemember the days when all you did was play? Help your kids live that life by connecting to the outdoors instead of the electronics.

3GO GREENRecent updates at The Recycling Zone make it easier than ever for you to drop off recyclables, electronics and household hazardous waste at no cost to you.

ContentsD E PA RTM E N TS

The Dakota County Board of Commissioners never takes your opinion for granted. That’s why every two years the County conducts a random

sample survey. The results from 2013 tell us that residents feel they have a high quality of life, love their libraries and parks, think the County pro-

vides good services and that 9 out of 10 approve of the job the Board is doing. We really appreciate that. But don’t think that means we’re going

to rest on our laurels. We want you to let us know how we’re doing. Share a comment or question anytime you want at www.dakotacounty.us.

FeatureMeet Whitetail Woods Regional Park Page 26

We’re opening a brand new park in Dakota County. Gather with friends. Play. Explore. Stay the night. Discover a whole new world at

Whitetail Woods Regional Park.

In BriefIn BriefIn Brief

fall/winter 2014 | www.dakotacounty.us | 3

3 SERVICE PLEASE 5 TRAIL CONSTRUCTION 6 DATES FOR YOUR DIARY 6 REDUCING TRAFFIC

SO, THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT Dakota County has three service centers and three license centers, located to be convenient for most residents. The tricky part can be to know exactly where to go to get what you need.

At your service

HELP IN GETTING WHAT YOU NEED

License center?

Service center?OR


In Brief | Service please

W hether you want to renew your driver’s license or regis-ter to vote, it’s important

to know that our service centers and license centers differ by the type of ser-vices they offer. This means that all the services that we provide don’t just fall under one roof, but they are separated — and here’s why.

The services we offer are required to be separate from one another because our service centers act on behalf of Da-kota County while our license centers act as an agent of the state on behalf of Driver and Vehicle Services.

Our license centers’ primary func-tion is to provide motor vehicles and driver’s license services, which means that if you’re looking to renew your license, transfer a vehicle title or even

buy a fish and game license, then you’ll want to go to one of our license centers in Burnsville, Lakeville or Rosemount.

Our service centers are meant to provide County services like voter registration, marriage licensing, home-stead applications, and absentee ballot applications. They also provide birth certificate death certificate services, passport applications, ministerial reg-istration and much more.

Although the services the County provides differ between service centers and license centers, we do strive to make the experience you have with us as convenient and efficient as possible. We do this by having multiple locations that are near the highest concentra-tion of people and by providing quality customer service to you.

We’ve also made improvements to the way we offer services. Since acquiring license centers in Burnsville, Lakev-ille and Rosemount, we’ve been able to move them into our libraries and out of expensive rental spaces. This helps us avoid unnecessary rental fees, which saves money, and it also adds the service to select libraries in the County, so you might avoid an additional stop along the way.

Whether it’s your intention to do something as simple as buy a fish and game license or apply for a marriage license, it’s important to know what we offer and where we offer it. Below we’ve provided a breakdown of all the services that we offer and where they are available.

LICENSE CENTER SERVICES

Permits, Certificates & Licensing Services• Driver’s license renewal

• Driver’s licenses

(automobiles and sport

utility vehicles)

• Vehicle tab renewal

• Vehicle transfers

• Dealer title work

• Trailer licenses

• Fish and game licenses

• Birth certificates

• Death certificates

• Passport photos

• Voter registration

• Homestead applications

SERVICE CENTER SERVICES

Permits, Certificates & Licensing Services• Voter registration

• Property taxation & records

• Passport processing

(ADC & WSC only)

• Homestead applications

• Marriage licensing

• Notary registration

• Ministerial registration

• Birth certificates

(ADC & NSC only)

• Death certificates

(ADC & WSC only)

Administration Center — ADC

(Hastings)

Burnsville License Center

(Burnsville)

Northern Service Center — NSC(West St. Paul)

Lakeville License Center

(Lakeville)

Western Service Center — WSC (Apple Valley)

Robert Trail License Center (Rosemount)

For more information about the services we offer, visit www.dakotacounty.us and search service and license centers.

which do you need?

These services are available online • E-property

tax statements

• Tax statement

information

• Property assessing

and comparison tool

• Pricing for homes

for sale

•


The crown jewelMagnificence you won’t see from a car window

GET SET TO EXPERIENCE THE MIGHTY Mississippi from a whole new vantage point in 2016. A 4.3-mile leg is being added to the Mississippi River Re-gional Trail between South St. Paul and Hastings — and it’s a beauty.

This new section is set to be the “crown jewel” of the regional trail as it passes through the 990-acre Spring Lake Park Reserve, connecting the rus-tic archery trail and retreat center at the west end of the park to the breathtaking Schaar’s Bluff in the east.

Hardwood forests that line the trail through the park give way to several ob-servation decks and sprawling 250- and 400-foot bridges that span deep ravines and offer sweeping views of Spring Lake and the Mississippi. From west to east, the trail rises gradually along the face of 18-story limestone bluffs that host spectacular panoramic skyline views of the vast river valley. Interpretive signs at

key rest stops along the way tell the story of the river’s history and significance to the people who lived here.

Whether you like to walk, skate or ride a bike through the woods, this trail is the perfect way to experience big woods and a majestic river in ways tour-ists will never see by car.

This new section is set to be the “crown

jewel” of the regional trail as it passes through the

990-acre Spring Lake Park Reserve.

Thus far, two segments of the trail are open — from Simon’s Ravine at Concord Avenue in South St. Paul to the southern

border of Inver Grove Heights and from Schaar’s Bluff in Spring Lake Park Reserve east to the riverfront in the City of Hastings. Access to the north segment is available at Simon's Ravine Trailhead at Concord and Butler avenues and to the south segment at Spring Lake Park Reserve in Hastings.

A final segment from Inver Grove Heights through Rosemount to the west end of Spring Lake Park Reserve will complete the 27-mile trail from South St. Paul to Hastings. The segment is planned for 2017.

When complete, the national Mis-sissippi River Trail will stretch nearly 3,000 miles from Minnesota’s Lake Itasca to the Gulf of Mexico — pass-ing through valleys, bluffs, prairies and woodlands — and connecting local parks and trails in 10 states.

In Brief | Trail construction

www.dakotacounty.us/parks, search MRRT construction


In Brief | Dates for your diary

Check it outRenovations at the Farmington and Inver Glen libraries are complete. Head in to check out the larger and more spacious libraries with new computer labs, self-service check out, children’s areas, meeting rooms and much more.

iPad StorytimesSept. 8–Dec. 8Boost your child’s early lit-eracy skills with new iPad books, apps and more at the Burnhaven, Galaxie and Wescott libraries. See program listings at www.dakotacounty.us/library, search calendar of events.

Master Recycler/ComposterSept. 16–Oct. 21Become a recycling leader at this six-week course on waste reduction, recycling, composting and solid waste. Held from 6–9 p.m. Tuesdays at the Dakota County Northern Service Center, the class features hands-on demonstrations, presentations by topic ex-perts and field trips. Visit www.dakotacounty.us, search master recycler.

Whitetail Woods Grand Opening Sept. 27Celebrate the opening of Whitetail Woods Regional Park from 11 a.m.–3 p.m. with live music by The Honeydogs, horse-drawn wagon rides, 5K fun run and more. See Parks programs and events guide in this newsletter.

Burnsville Household Hazardous Waste CollectionSept. 27Safely dispose of your household hazardous waste and electronics for free from 9 a.m.–2 p.m. at the Burnsville Maintenance Facility, 13713 Frontier Court, Burnsville.

Wild Ride Mountain Bike Festival Oct. 4Ride the best mountain bike trails in the metro from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. at Lebanon Hills Regional Park. Free bike demo, tune-ups, clinics, group rides and more. See Parks programs and events guide in this newsletter.

New Year's Eve PartyDec. 31Celebrate a family New Year’s Eve from 5–8 p.m. at the Lebanon Hills Visitor Center. Ice skate, hike and snowshoe by candlelight; slide on a lit sledding hill; and countdown for the ball drop at 7:59 p.m. See Parks programs and events guide in this newsletter.

Trails by CandlelightFeb. 14Cross-country ski, hike, ice skate and snowshoe by candlelight and slide on the lit sledding hill from 6–9 p.m. at Lebanon Hills Regional Park. See Parks programs and events guide in this newsletter.

Seeing orange Reducing traffic with the METRO Orange Line www.metrotransit.org/metro-orange-line

A second Bus Rapid Transit route, the METRO Orange Line, is being planned along I-35W between Minneapo-lis and Burnsville. Like the METRO Red Line along Cedar Avenue, the Orange Line will use roadways, transit stations and park and ride facilities to provide frequent and reli-able service for thousands of residents in Dakota County each day.

Orange Line buses will run between the Burnsville Transit Station at I-35W and Highway 13 and downtown Minneapo-lis with stops in Richfield and Bloomington. Additional sta-tions are being considered for south Burnsville and Lakeville. The METRO Orange Line will provide trips every 15 minutes at midday and on evenings and weekends to help ease conges-tion on I-35W and save riders time and money.

Estimated project cost is $150 million with the Federal New Starts Program picking up 50 percent of the cost. The remaining 50 percent would be covered by the Counties Tran-sit Improvement Board (30 percent) and Hennepin and Dakota County equally shar-ing the remaining 20 percent. Construction could begin as early as 2016 with anticipated opening in 2019.

Plan on it

Our WorkOur WorkOur Work


7 TOOLS FOR STUDENTS 9 E-TAX STATEMENTS 10 CLEARING WINTER ROADS

Making the grade

TOOLS TO HELP YOUR CHILD ACE THEIR SCHOOL PROJECTS

YOU WOULDN’T USE A SCREWDRIVER TO HAMMER A NAIL or a spoon to carve a tur-key. Finding the right tool makes a job easier and less stressful. The same goes for your child’s school-work. Let the Dakota County Library provide all the right tools for your child’s academic success.


Our Work | Tools for students

Everything you’re (re)searching forDakota County Library’s online databases will help your student write that ‘A’ paper. Here are just a few of the tools available. www.dakotacounty.us/library, click on Research Tools

CountryWatchCome to know the world. News, maps, overviews and detailed reports on each of the recognized countries of the world.

EBSCO Academic Search PremierGive yourself an edge. Full text of scholarly journals and other publications from a wide variety of academic disciplines.

EBSCO MasterFILE PremierFind anything and everything. General interest publications, full-text reference books, biographies, primary source documents, and an image collection of photos, maps and flags.

InfoTrac Student EditionStay on top of what’s happening, Magazines, newspapers, and reference books on current events, the arts, science, popular culture and health especially for grades 9–12.

LearningExpressLibrary 3.0Practice makes perfect. Online courses in math and English, plus online practice tests for official exams, including academic achievement.

Literature Resource CenterBook report due? Biographies, bibliographies, and critical analysis of authors from every age and literary discipline.

LitFinderNurture your inner reader. A searchable collection of full-text poems, essays, speeches, plays and stories, including biographies, explanations, and literary criticism.

ProQuest NewspapersGo global. Full text of U.S. and international news sources, including more than 150 major U.S. and international newspapers such as The New York Times, the Times of London, and the Star Tribune.

Science In ContextEureka! Thousands of topic overviews, experiments, biographies, pictures and illustrations. The latest scientific developments are covered in articles from more than 200 magazines and academic journals.

Science Reference CenterGet curious. Access to a multitude of full text science-oriented content.

Student Resources In ContextGot homework? Literary, science, health, history, and biography resources designed for high-school students for both homework and in-depth research assignments.


Homework Help Your student doesn’t have 24/7 access to their teachers, but they can ask a question anytime with Homework Help. Online tutors are available from 1–11 p.m., seven days a week, with the exception of holidays, to answer your questions about math, science, social studies, writing and more. Go to www.dakotacounty.us/library and search Homework Help.

Research Databases Using Google or Wikipedia might work for some research projects, but to make sure you’re getting information from trusted sources, the Library has databases for any subject.

You can find full text articles from more than 300 U.S. and international news sources, including more than 150 major newspapers, by using the ProQuest Newspapers database.

Science in Context offers articles from more than 200 magazines and academic journals on all the latest scientific advancements.

For English class, find full-text poems, essays, speeches, plays and short stories. Need help understanding? Author biographies, text explanations and literary reviews are also available.Go to www.dakotacounty.us/library and search Research Tools for more options.

Interlibrary LoanThe Dakota County Library can track down any materials that have been published for at least one year — no matter where they are — with the Minnesota Library Information Network. Requests can be made online, and most materials can be found in 30 days.

Computers and WI-FI AccessAll Library branches have computers with Internet access to complete research and Microsoft Office 2010 to create reports and presentations.

If you have your own laptop, all Dakota County Library locations are equipped with Wi-Fi.

Study RoomsDo noisy younger siblings make hosting a study group a challenge? Let the Library get rid of all the distractions. Study rooms are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. All study rooms have Wi-Fi access and allow students to have all the other Library resources at their fingertips.

Study room capacity varies by Library location. Contact your Library branch for more information.

Ease up with e-tax statementsMake tax season more convenient this yearwww.dakotacounty.us, search electronic tax statement

DITCH THE PAPER — GO DIGITALWe know you’re busy, so we want to make things easier for you. That’s why we offer an electronic option for property tax statements.

Choose to receive electronic tax state-ments, and they will arrive securely to an email account of your choosing. You’ll have the ability to easily find, review, print or even archive your tax statements online at your convenience. Go digital and avoid misplacing your statement in heaps of junk mail or accidentally tossing it in the trash.

It’s easy; it’s efficient, and it’s economi-cal. If people use this service, we could save on the paper and postage it takes to send more than 150,000 statements. So far, only about 1,500 property owners are getting their tax statements electroni-cally. For every person signed up, the County saves about a dollar each year.

For more information about e-tax statements and other electronic services, visit www.dakotacounty.us and search property tax statement. To sign up, visit the Electronic Tax Statement Web page and complete the online form.


Our Work | Clearing winter roads

T here is no magic wand that removes ice and snow from

winter roads. There’s also no crystal ball to predict when blizzards will hit. It takes a combination of hard work, the right machines and materials and a lot of planning to make sure your commute to work or trip to the grocery store is safe.

One big jobDakota County clears 424 miles of county roads during each snowfall — but a plow can only clear one lane of the road at a time. With multiple lanes in some areas, this means there are 1,173 lane miles in the County road system (1,060 miles of asphalt lanes and 113 miles of gravel lanes). Or, roughly the distance from Minneapolis to Austin, Texas.

The County uses 25 plows and three motor graders to get the job done.

On the clockThe County’s goal during a snow event is to clear all roads shoulder-to-shoulder in a 4–5 hour window.

To do this, everything needs to run like clockwork. Each truck has a set route that is plowed the same way for each storm. To get trucks closer to the area they need to clear, they are stationed at three maintenance shops across the County — Empire, Hastings and Farmington.

All drivers are notified of the planned start time just 30 minutes before the trucks roll out.

Making the callIn most instances, plowing begins when roads are white or icy, but there are many factors that make every event different. When the snow starts, when it ends, how much is forecast, the type of snow, and the temperature all play a role in determining when plows get out on the road.

For example, with a fast moving system with small amounts of snow, plows may not go out until the snow comes to an end. For slower paced storms, plows may go over roads multiple times before the job is finished.

Beating rush hourWhen storms occur overnight, plows start their routes at 2:30 a.m. on weekdays to make sure most plowing is completed for the morning rush hour. On weekends, plowing starts at 4:30 a.m. because traffic is lighter during the morning hours.

The County’s goal during a snow event is to clear all

roads shoulder-to-shoulder in a 4–5 hour window.

Dakota County clears 424 miles of county roads during each snowfall.

The County uses 25 plows and three motor graders

to get the job done.

Solved mysteryThere’s nothing mystical in how we make winter roads safe

CommunityCommunityCommunity


11 WELL-DESERVED BENEFITS 13 PREVENTING ELDER ABUSE 14 THE ROAD TO READING

Plenty to go around

AND AS A VETERAN, YOU’VE EARNED IT

WHEN MEN AND WOMEN serve their country in the military, they earn our gratitude and many well-deserved benefits. Americans have made a commitment to take care of our veterans.


Community | Well-deserved benefits

S ome come home seriously injured, but no one questions the

support and care they receive. Yet most return unhurt. And all too often, these young and uninjured veterans are hesitant to apply for the benefits they’ve rightfully earned.

Luckily, only some military members fall victim to roadside bombs or snipers. But they all take the risk. If they serve, they deserve the benefits. It’s that simple. The hesitation by some veterans to apply for benefits may be due to a belief that the resources are limited.

The idea that there’s only so much help to go around is a misconception — there’s no short supply. Veterans’ benefits are available for anyone and everyone who is eligible. And they’re uniquely tied to each individual’s service.

You may be a young and healthy veteran — or spouse, child or parent of a deceased veteran — who thinks the assistance should go elsewhere, perhaps to an elderly or disabled individual. Don’t worry; they’ll get the help they need. And you can, too. When you contact Dakota County Veterans Services, you don’t take away from anyone else.

In fact, anyone who has ever put on a military uniform is encouraged to get in touch with Veterans Services and learn about potential benefits. A simple inquiry about one specific benefit can quickly bring people to discover there’s much more available as well.

What’s available?There is a lot of help promised to the brave individuals who served in our military, but they might not realize what they’re entitled to or qualify for. Dakota County Veterans Services can clear up the confusion by identifying benefits, connecting veterans with resources and helping with any necessary paperwork — all at absolutely no charge. A call to 651-554-5601 will educate veterans on a variety of benefits, including:

1 Disability compensation. This is a tax-free monetary benefit paid to veterans with disabilities that are the result of injury or illness incurred or aggravated by their active

military service.

2 State special needs

programs. One-time financial assistance is available to veterans who are experiencing a financial crisis or who are temporarily disabled and need financial assistance.

5 State optical/dental vouchers. Yearly dental and optical vouchers

are available to veterans with a qualifying income.

3 Burial and memorial benefits. Veterans Services

can provide resources for military funeral honors, burial in state or national cemeteries, headstone markers, medallions and Presidential Memorial Certificates.

4 VA Pension. This is a tax-free

monetary benefit paid to low-income wartime veterans or their surviving spouse or dependent.


Every little bit helpswww.dakotacounty.us, search veterans services

Many veterans know they’re entitled to things like medical benefits and housing assistance, but sometimes they forget there’s help available for small needs as well. A program called Beyond the Yellow Ribbon gets community members together to assist veterans and their families with a variety of tasks they can no longer perform on their own, including:

Mowing the lawn

Shoveling snow

Paying bills

Cleaning the house

Driving to appointments

Providing meals

Requesting assistance is easy — simply visit www.dakotacounty.us and search yellow ribbon to find out how to connect with your city’s representative.

In this day and ageProtecting the elderly

WHILE THE U.S. ADMINISTRATION on Aging estimates the number of Americans older than 65 will double in the next 30 years, the Minnesota State Demographer projects that Dakota County’s 65-plus population will triple in the same time period. That should mean a lot of Dakota County residents relaxing and enjoying grandchildren and hobbies. Unfortunately, these can be anything but golden years for seniors who are abused, neglected or financially exploited.

Look for the warning signs. Abuse and neglect can result from physical vulnerability — having medical or mobility issues. Watch for bruises, burns or broken bones that have no logical explanation; weight loss; emotional withdrawal; and unexpected fearfulness.

Seniors with even mild dementia are at risk to be

financially victimized. Studies estimate that elderly Americans lose close to $3 billion a year to such abuse. Signs of this kind of exploitation include unpaid bills, a lack of needed equipment or medication, sudden changes to a will or Power of Attorney, abrupt asset transfers, and frequent gifts made to a caregiver.

Sadly, the elderly are usually victimized by family members or someone responsible for their care. So what can you do if you suspect a problem?

The first step is to ask questions. Is someone hurting you? Are you afraid of anyone? Is anyone taking or using your money without permission? If you have reason to believe there is abuse or exploitation, call Dakota County Adult Protection at 651-554-6424. If the victim is in immediate danger, call 911. Visit www.safemn.org for more information.


In their first five years, chil-dren learn at a faster pace than at any other time in

their lives. It’s during that time — long before they discover printed words on a page — that children come to love the sound of language as their parents talk, sing and read to them.

Reading aloud to your child for 20 minutes a day from an early age has tremendous life-long benefits. In infants and toddlers, it helps develop lan-guage and listening skills that prepare them for understand-ing the written word. From toddlers to preschoolers, it sparks curiosity about people, places and things. It improves attention span, stimulates imagination and instills a love

of learning that opens the door to understanding their world.

Once in school, your child will receive 85 percent of cur-riculum using printed words on paper, white boards and computer screens — making reading the most fundamental skill your child will need dur-ing their school years. Stud-ies have shown that toddlers and preschoolers who are exposed to reading early are more likely to do well in every subject from kindergarten through college.

Children who read grow into adults who succeed. That’s why the Dakota County Library offers thousands of resources to help you raise a reader. Check them out.

Community | The road to reading

1Read books, magazines,

cartoons, signs and recipes aloud with your child.

3Ask a librarian to help you

match books to your child’s reading skills.

6Instill reading interest online with video storybooks and animated

books with activities.

5Participate in activities like our summer

reading program, poetry contest or a theater production.

2Play games and visit

our early literacy play spaces.

4 Read along with books on disc.

9Download free

audiobooks and e-books for kids.

10Encourage your child to

have a library card of their own.

7Use music to foster reading skills in children as young

as infants.

Raise a readerThe road to reading starts long before discovering words on a pagewww.dakotacounty.us/library, search raise a reader

8Introduce young’uns to books at Library

storytimes.

NATURE PLAYA LITTLE DIRT NEVER HURT ANYONE

• WHITETAIL WOODS GRAND OPENING • WILD RIDE• FALL COLOR HIKE

YourParksPROGRAMS & EVENTS

find us on facebook

SNOWSHOEHIKES

WILDERNESSSURVIVAL

SCOUTS

EVENTS

CROSS-COUNTRY SKI LESSONS

FALLWINTER 2014

www.dakotacounty.us/parks

Most kids today won’t. In the last two decades, child-hood has moved indoors. Boys and girls now spend the

better part of their time inside with the sterile company of technology rather than following their natural-born impulses to explore the outdoors with their senses. In fact, many kids today would rather stay indoors and watch television, play computer games, and, in some cases, even do their homework, than go outside to play.

Remember playing outside until mom called you for dinner?

Let kids be kids

Keep fat at bay. PLAY

Keep fat at bay

PLAY

Stave off stress with

sunshine

This shift to stay inside pro-foundly impacts the health of kids. According to the Institute of Medicine, childhood obesity has doubled over the past 30 years for preschoolers and adolescents and more than tripled for children age 6–11. The Center for Disease Con-trol reported 70 percent of U.S. children and adolescents have insufficient levels of vitamin D (the sunshine vitamin), which is associated with cardio-vascular disease, rickets and eventually osteoporosis. In fact, a report from the National Environmental Education Foundation found even more studies that place part of the blame for increased diabetes, hypertension, childhood stress, cardiovascular disease and obesity in children on not get-ting outdoors enough.

Today, the average Ameri-can boy or girl spends as little as 30 minutes in unstructured outdoor play each day and more than seven hours in front of an electronic screen. When kids do leave the house, a growing body of research suggests the things we do to protect them from dirt and germs, such as not letting them get too messy or fre-quently using hand sanitizers, can inhibit their mental and

physical health according to The Dirt on Dirt put out by the National Wildlife Federation.

So what would happen if children played with sticks? Climbed a tree? Or made mud pies?

Maybe they would be inspired to become an artist, a builder, a biologist, a chef, a gardener or an archaeologist.

Allowing children free, unstructured outdoor play is a win-win for kids. Not only does it help them to stay active and healthy and to develop socializing skills, but it also helps them to sort out future interests and create treasured childhood memories like catching frogs, picking blue-berries, looking for four-leaf clovers, climbing trees, build-ing forts out of sticks or simply lying in the grass and imagin-ing shapes in the clouds — the things that many parents look back on so fondly.

These activities are all nature play — unstructured childhood play in “wild” places — whether it’s in the backyard, the “back 40” of grandpa’s farm or at the local park. Nature play is open-ended, free-time for creative explora-tion and recreation.Nature play areas — where kids can be free to be kids —

are popping up in parks across the country, including the new Whitetail Woods Re-gional Park. This unique space features all the things found in nature that allow kids to build forts from sticks, climb on rocks and stumps, balance on logs, build water dams and sand sculptures, and to inspire a host of other nature-based activities that provide a healthy environment to stimu-late creativity with minimal adult direction.

What's more, we invite you to get your kids started on the road to nature play with fun, imaginative activities at our free Nature Play: Fun at Whitetail Woods programs this October. See program details in this Parks programs and events section.

Kids are different when they’re outdoors — free of school pressures and demand-ing schedules — free to let their imagination soar as they mess around in the woods — free to experience hours of nature play the way so many older adults remember when they were kids. Let your kids be kids and be free to make memories they’ll look back on at the Fawn Crossing Nature Play Area in Whitetail Woods Regional Park.

A little DIRT never hurt

TREES Climb them to your heart's

content

BUGS

NATURE HAS NO

TIME LIMIT

are a kids best

friend

Mud pies made to order

From stick

fort to mighty fortress

COATES

MENDOTA HEIGHTS

LILYDALE

SOUTH ST PAUL

WEST ST PAUL

MENDOTA

INVER GROVE

HEIGHTS

SUNFISH LAKE

EAGAN

BURNSVILLE

NININGER TWP HASTINGS

ROSEMOUNT

MARSHAN TWP

RAVENNATWP

EMPIRE TWP

VERMILLION TWP

LAKEVILLE

APPLE VALLEY

FARMINGTON

VERMILLION

DOUGLAS TWP

EUREKA TWP

CASTLE ROCK TWP

HAMPTON TWP

NEW TRIERHAMPTONMIESVILLE

RANDOLPH TWP

SCIOTA TWP

WATERFORD TWP

GREENVALETWP

RANDOLPH

NORTHFIELD

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Spring Lake Park Reserve

Lake Byllesby Regional Park

www.dakotacounty.us/parks click Programs & Events

PROGRAMS & EVENTS

Big Rivers Regional Trail

Whitetail Woods Regional Park— Now open —

Miesville Ravine Park Reserve

Lebanon Hills Regional Park

Big Rivers Regional Trail

North Urban Regional Trail

Mississippi River Regional Trail

Dakota Woods Dog Park

ArcheryBikingBoatingCamper cabinCampingCanoeing/KayakingCross-country skiing

Dog on-leashDogsleddingFishingGardeningGeocachingHikingHorseback riding

HorseshoesIce skatingKicksleddingModel airplane flyingMountain bikingPicnickingPlay area

Recreational bonfireRollerbladingSki skatingSleddingSnowshoeingSwimming

Thompson County Park

PROGRAMS & EVENTSCall 952-891-7000 Monday through Friday 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

CROSS-COUNTRY SKI LESSONS FOR YOUTHLearn the basic skills of classic-style cross-country skiing in a kid-friendly environment.Ages: 6–12.Fee: $15/youth.Visitor CenterLebanon Hills Regional Park• Sat, Jan. 10; 2–4 pm

Course Number: 5041• Sun, Jan. 25; 2–4 pm

Course Number: 5042• Sun, Feb. 8; 2–4 pm

Course Number: 5163• Sat, Feb. 28; 2–4 pm

Course Number: 5044

CROSS-COUNTRY SKI LESSONS FOR TEENSLearn about equipment, trails and technique in this introduc-tion to classic-style cross-country skiing for teens.Ages: 13–16.Fee: $15/youth.Visitor CenterLebanon Hills Regional Park• Sun, Feb. 1; 2–4 pm

Course Number: 5043• Sat, March 7; 2–4 pm

Course Number: 5181

KNEE-HIGH NATURALISTSDiscover nature with a child through hands-on activities, outdoor exploration, art projects, storytime and more.Ages: 3–6.Fee: $8/youth; adults free.Visitor CenterLebanon Hills Regional Park

Bat LifeExplore the world of bats — learn about how they fly and make a bat puppet to take home.• Thu, Oct. 9; 10–11:30 am

Course Number: 5064• Sat, Oct. 18; 10–11:30 am

Course Number: 5065

PineconesLearn about pinecones and the coniferous trees they come from. Create a pinecone birdfeeder to take home.• Thu, Nov. 13; 10–11:30 am

Course Number: 5066• Sat, Nov. 15; 10–11:30 am

Course Number: 5067

Animal HomesDiscover the amazing ways animals build shelters and the habitats they call home. Take a walk to find animal shelters in our park.• Thu, Dec. 11; 10–11:30 am

Course Number: 5069• Sat, Dec. 20; 10–11:30 am

Course Number: 5068

Whoooo's There?Explore the interesting world of owls. Examine owl biofacts, learn about an owl’s sight and head outside to look for signs of owls.• Thu, Jan. 8; 10–11:30 am

Course Number: 5070• Sat, Jan. 10; 10–11:30 am

Course Number: 5071

Animal SignsExamine various animal tracks and the many hidden signs animals leave behind. Make your own animal tracks to take home.• Thu, Feb. 12; 10–11:30 am

Course Number: 5072• Sat, Feb. 21; 10–11:30 am

Course Number: 5073

Oh Deer!Learn about the world of deer through hands-on discovery of deer biofacts and park explora-tion. Create your own deer to take home.• Thu, March 12; 10–11:30 am

Course Number: 5074• Sat, March 21; 10–11:30 am

Course Number: 5075

HOMESCHOOL LABUse the park as your lab for hands-on study and scientific experimentation.Ages: 6–12.Fee: $8/youth.Visitor CenterLebanon Hills Regional Park

Science of Falling LeavesWhy do leaves turn color in the fall? Learn about the adaptations plants and trees go through to survive winter.• Wed, Oct. 1; 1–3 pm

Course Number: 5058

Natural History of DeerLearn about the whitetail deer’s life cycle, anatomy and role in the ecosystem.• Wed, Nov. 5; 1–3 pm

Course Number: 5059

Biology of WoodpeckersLearn how to identify Minne-sota's woodpecker species and study their life cycles, habitat and beak adaptations.• Wed, Dec. 3; 1–3 pm

Course Number: 5060

HOMESCHOOL RECREATIONLearn and practice new recreation skills.Ages: 6–12.Fee: $8/youth.Visitor CenterLebanon Hills Regional Park

Cross-country SkiingLearn the basics of classic-style cross-country skiing and get out on the trails to practice your new skills.• Wed, Jan. 7; 1–3 pm

Course Number: 5061

Ice FishingExplore the world of ice fishing, including safety, equipment and technique, and try out your new skills on the lake.• Wed, Feb. 4; 1–3 pm

Course Number: 5062

Tracks, Scat and SnowshoesMake your own tracks with snow-shoes while learning to identify the tracks, scat and other signs that animals leave behind.• Wed, March 4; 1–3 pm

Course Number: 5063

SCOUT BADGESEarn your scout badges, achieve-ments, or electives in these two-hour programs. Fee: $8/youth.Visitor CenterLebanon Hills Regional Park

Brownies — Hiker BadgeLearn what to bring on a hike, how to read a map, and take a hike in the park with a naturalist while earning your badge.Ages: 6–9.• Sat, Oct. 18; 2–4 pm

Course Number: 5124

Webelos — Naturalist Badge Explore the park with a naturalist and earn your badge while learn-ing how to make observations and identify animals and how humans and animals interact.Ages: 9–11.• Sat, Oct. 25; 2–4 pm

Course Number: 5125

Bear Cubs — Taking Care of Your PlanetLearn about renewable and non-renewable resources and how they can be used to power communities while earning your achievement.Ages: 8–10.• Sat, Nov. 1; 10 am–noon

Course Number: 5126

Daisies — Clover PetalLearn the definition of natural re-sources, how humans use them, and what types we have in our park while earning your petal.Ages: 5–6.• Sat, Nov. 1; 2–4 pm

Course Number: 5127

Tiger Cubs — Let’s Go OutdoorsEarn your achievement through observing the weather, making leaf rubbings and exploring the park on a fun nature hike.Ages: 6–7.• Sat, Nov. 8; 10 am–noon

Course Number: 5128

Wolf Cubs — Birds Learn tips for birdwatching and how to identify the birds you see while earning your elective.Ages: 6–7.• Sat, Dec. 6; 2–4 pm

Course Number: 5129

Junior Girl Scouts — Geocacher Badge Discover how to use a GPS unit and find geocaches while earn-ing your Geocacher Badge.Ages: 8–11.• Sat, Dec. 13; 2–4 pm

Course Number: 5130

HARVEST ARCHERY SHOOTLearn the basics of archery, in-cluding proper stance, safety and shooting technique, and practice your new skill by shooting at apples, hay bales and more. Ages: 8–15.Fee: $12/youth.Archery ShelterLower Spring Lake Park Reserve• Sat, Oct. 11; 2–4 pm

Course Number: 5174

WILDERNESS SURVIVAL SKILLSDiscover the skills necessary to survive the wilderness, including how to build a shelter, tie knots, forage for food and build a fire.Ages: 8–15.Fee: $12/youth.Camp SacajaweaLebanon Hills Regional Park• Sun, Nov. 9; 1–4 pm

Course Number: 5133

WINTER WILDERNESS SURVIVAL SKILLSKnow how to survive in the wild in winter by learning about survival mechanisms, how to construct snow and debris shelters, and build a fire.Ages: 8–15.Fee: $12/youth.Camp SacajaweaLebanon Hills Regional Park• Sun, Jan. 11; 1–4 pm

Course Number: 5164

PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH

FOREVER WILD FAMILY FRIDAYJoin us for family fun on the first Friday of every month.Ages: All ages.Fee: Free; registration requested.Visitor CenterLebanon Hills Regional Park

Treasure HuntFind treasures hidden in the park using GPS units. Bring your own unit or borrow one of ours. Limited number available.• Fri, Oct. 3; 7–8:30 pm

Course Number: 5045

Spider and Fire: World Stories and MasksJoin Rhonda Lund as she per-forms masked storytelling and shares common purposes and materials used to make masks across the world. A Minnesota Legacy program.• Fri, Nov. 7; 7–8:30 pm

Course Number: 5046

Animal FolkloreJoin Ross Sutter in singing and dancing a collection of tunes about animals and their world. A Minnesota Legacy program.• Fri, Dec. 5; 7–8:30 pm

Course Number: 5047

Sledding PartyBring your sled for a fun party on our lit sledding hill.• Fri, Jan. 2; 7–8:30 pm

Course Number: 5048

The Man Who Loved SnowJoin Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre as they share the story of "Snowflake" Bentley, the first person to photograph a single snow crystal.• Fri, Feb. 6; 7–8:30 pm

Course Number: 5049

The Way of the MonarchHeart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre returns with the story of the spectacular life, metamorphisis and migration of the monarch butterfly.• Fri, March 6; 7–8:30 pm

Course Number: 5050

FULL MOON HIKEExplore the park on a family moonlit hike and hear fun lunar legends and folklore under the full moon.Ages: 5 and older.Fee: $8/person.Visitor CenterLebanon Hills Regional Park• Fri, Oct. 10; 6:30–8 pm

Course Number: 5052

CREATURES OF THE NIGHTTake a guided night hike in the park and discover how animals adapt to the night and how darkness can play tricks on your senses.Ages: 5 and older.Fee: $8/person.Visitor CenterLebanon Hills Regional Park• Sat, Oct. 25; 6:30–8:30 pm

Course Number: 5034

NATURE PLAY: FUN AT WHITE-TAIL WOODSBring the kids for fun imaginative play and activities with a park naturalist at the new nature play area in Whitetail Woods Regional Park.Ages: All ages.Fee: Free; registration requested.Fawn Crossing Nature Play AreaWhitetail Woods Regional Park• Tue, Oct. 7; 9 am–noon

Course Number: 5169• Tue, Oct. 21; 1–4 pm

Course Number: 5170• Sun, Oct. 19; 1–4 pm

Course Number: 5171

GEOCACHING AT WHITETAIL WOODSBring the kids to hunt for treasures in Whitetail Woods Re-gional Park. Learn how to use a GPS unit and find hidden caches while exploring the new park.Ages: 5 and older.Fee: $8/person.Empire Lake Picnic ShelterWhitetail Woods Regional Park• Sun, Nov. 2; 1–3 pm

Course Number: 5180

SLEDDING PARTY AT WHITE-TAIL WOODSBring a sled and join us under the lights at the new sledding hill in Whitetail Woods Regional Park. We'll provide the campfire and s'mores.Ages: All ages.Fee: Free; registration requested.Empire Lake Picnic ShelterWhitetail Woods Regional Park• Sat, Dec. 20; 6–9 pm


Course Number: 5177

WILD BOOKS: ONE FROZEN LAKEJoin children's book author Deb-orah Jo Larson as she presents her book One Frozen Lake in this fun presentation. A Minnesota Legacy program.Ages: All ages.Fee: Free; registration requested.Visitor CenterLebanon Hills Regional Park• Sat, Jan. 3; 10 am–noon

Course Number: 5168

FULL MOON SNOWSHOE Learn the basics of snowshoeing and head out on a family-friendly hike to explore the woods by moonlight.Ages: 5 and older.Fee: $12/person.Visitor CenterLebanon Hills Regional Park• Sat, Jan. 3; 6–7:30 pm

Course Number: 5053• Sun, Feb. 1; 6–7:30 pm

Course Number: 5055

PARENT CHILD CROSS-COUN-TRY SKI LESSONSLearn the basics of classic-style cross-country skiing in a family friendly environment.Ages: 5 and older.Fee: $15/person.Visitor CenterLebanon Hills Regional Park• Sat, Jan. 3; 2–4 pm

Course Number: 5077• Sun, Jan. 25; 10 am–noon

Course Number: 5078• Sun, Feb. 8; 10 am–noon


Course Number: 5162

PARENT CHILD ICE FISHINGHead out on the lake with your child and discover techniques to catch fish under the ice. Learn about safety and equipment and practice your new skills.Ages: 5 and older.Fee: $10/person.Visitor CenterLebanon Hills Regional Park• Sun, Jan. 4; 2–4 pm

Course Number: 5172

ANIMAL TRACKING Take a guided winter hike with your family and learn to identify tracks and other signs animals leave behind.Ages: 5 and older.Fee: $8/person.Visitor CenterLebanon Hills Regional Park• Sat, March 7; 10 am–noon

Course Number: 4993

PARENT CHILD BIRDINGEnjoy a morning of birding with your child. Learn tips for identifi-cation, take a birdwatching hike and build your own birdfeeder in time for spring.Ages: 5 and older.Fee: $10/person.Visitor CenterLebanon Hills Regional Park• Sat, March 28; 10 am–noon

Course Number: 5173

YOGA FOR BEGINNERSJoin an all-level class that focuses on breathing in each pose and listening to your body.Ages: 10 and older.Fee: $48/session.Visitor CenterLebanon Hills Regional Park• Wed, Oct. 1–Nov. 5; 6:30– 7:30 pm

Course Number: 5134• Wed, Jan. 7–Feb. 11; 6:30– 7:30 pm

Course Number: 5136

YOGA FOR INTERMEDIATESTake the next step and focus on correct alignment and strength.Ages: 10 and older.Fee: $48/session.Visitor CenterLebanon Hills Regional Park• Wed, Nov. 12–Dec. 17;

6:30–7:45 pm Course Number: 5135

• Wed, Feb. 18–March 25; 6:30–7:45 pm Course Number: 5137

FALL COLOR HIKE AT WHITE-TAIL WOODSTake a guided hike to see the stunning fall color display at Dakota County's newest park.Ages: 16 and older.Fee: $8/person.Empire Lake Picnic ShelterWhitetail Woods Regional Park• Sun, Oct. 5; 1–3 pm

Course Number: 5175

FULL MOON HIKE Explore Lebanon Hills on a moonlit hike and listen to inter-esting lunar legends and folklore.Ages: 16 and older.Fee: $10/person.Jensen ShelterLebanon Hills Regional Park• Wed, Oct. 8; 7–9 pm

Course Number: 5051

PROGRAMS FOR FAMILIES

www.dakotacounty.us/parks click Programs & Events

PROGRAMS & EVENTS

ADULT PROGRAMS

CROSS-COUNTRY SKI LESSONS Learn about equipment, trails and technique in this introduc-tion to classic-style cross-country skiing.Ages: 16 and older.Fee: $30/person.Visitor CenterLebanon Hills Regional Park• Sun, Jan. 11; 10 am–noon

Course Number: 5035• Sun, Jan. 11; 2–4 pm

Course Number: 5036• Sat, Jan. 24; 10 am–noon

Course Number: 5037• Sat, Jan. 24; 2–4 pm

Course Number: 5038• Sat, Feb. 7; 10 am–noon


Course Number: 5040

SNOWSHOE HIKE AT WHITETAIL WOODSTake a guided snowshoe hike and explore the trails in Dakota County's newest park while learn-ing about winter ecology. Ages: 16 and older.Fee: $18/person.Empire Lake Picnic ShelterWhitetail Woods Regional Park• Sun, Dec. 28; 1–3 pm

Course Number: 5178

FULL MOON SNOWSHOE Learn snowshoeing basics and head out to explore the woods in the moonlight. Ages: 16 and older.Fee: $18/person.Visitor CenterLebanon Hills Regional Park• Sun, Jan. 4; 6–8 pm

Course Number: 5054• Tue, Feb. 3; 6–8 pm

Course Number: 5056

SNOWSHOE HIKE AT SCHAAR'S BLUFFExplore the scenic Schaar's Bluff in winter on a guided snowshoe hike.Ages: 16 and older.Fee: $18/person.Schaar's Bluff Gathering CenterSpring Lake Park Reserve• Sat, Jan. 24; 1–3 pm

Course Number: 5179

BACKYARD AGRICULTURE: BEEKEEPING BASICSDiscover everything you need to know to start your own apiary with JoAnne Sabin of the Minne-sota Hobby Beekeepers Associa-tion. Learn honeybee biology and behavior, hive management and swarm prevention, what equipment is needed and where to get it, and how to harvest honey and take care of your bees year-round. Ages: 16 and older.Fee: $30/person.Visitor CenterLebanon Hills Regional Park• Thu, Jan. 15, 22 & 29; 6–9 pm

Course Number: 5167

ARMCHAIR ADVENTURES: THE SEVEN STATES OF MINNESOTAJoin author John Toren on a virtual tour of the state of Min-nesota, from the southwestern prairies to the north woods, exploring its diverse landscapes, little-known ethnic enclaves and craft traditions, birding hotspots, and outstanding recreational opportunites. Ages: 16 and older.Fee: $5/person.Visitor CenterLebanon Hills Regional Park• Sat, Nov. 15; 7–9 pm

Course Number: 5166

WHITETAIL WOODS GRAND OPENING Join us to celebrate the open-ing of Dakota County's newest park — Whitetail Woods Regional Park — with live music by local sensation The Honeydogs, horse-drawn wagon rides, 5K fun run, kite flying, nature play and more. Wood-fired pizza, pork sand-wiches and hot dogs available for purchase. Ages: All ages.Fee: Free.Empire Lake Picnic ShelterWhitetail Woods Regional Park• Sat, Sept. 27; 11 am–3 pm

WILD RIDERide the best mountain bike trails in the metro at the annual Wild Ride Mountain Bike Festival. Demo trails, tune-ups, clinics, group rides and live music. Free bike check-out available. Lunch available from food trucks; prices vary.Ages: All ages.Fee: Free; registration requested.West TrailheadLebanon Hills Regional Park• Sat, Oct. 4; 10 am–4 pm

Course Number: 5132

NEW YEAR'S EVE PARTYJoin us for our annual family New Year's Eve Party and enjoy an evening of winter festivities. Ice skate, hike and snowshoe by candlelight; slide on a lit sledding hill; and warm up at a roaring bonfire. Head indoors for face painting, a magic show, live animals and stories told by a professional storyteller. Wind up the festivities with a countdown and ball drop at 7:59 p.m. Bring your own sleds and ice skates. Snowshoe rental available. Hot food available from food trucks; prices vary.Ages: All ages.Fee: $8/person if pre-registered by Dec. 30; $10/person at the door. Youth ages 5 and under free.Visitor CenterLebanon Hills Regional Park• Wed, Dec. 31; 5–8 pm

Course Number: 5076

TRAILS BY CANDLELIGHTMake it a Valentine's Day like no other! Cross-country ski, hike, ice skate and snowshoe by candle-light. Slide on the lit sledding hill and warm up by a roaring bonfire. Ski and snowshoe rental available. Bring your own sleds and ice skates. Hot food available from food trucks; prices vary. Ages: All ages.Fee: $8/person if pre-registered by Feb. 13; $10/person at the door. Youth ages 5 and under free.Visitor CenterLebanon Hills Regional Park• Sat, Feb. 14; 6–9 pm

Course Number: 5131

EVENTS

PROGRAMS & EVENTSCall 952-891-7000 Monday through Friday 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

INFORMATION

REGISTRATIONNot required for free programs unless noted. Satisfaction is guaranteed.

PAYMENTPayment is due at registration. All major credit cards are ac-cepted.

IF WE NEED TO CANCELCancellations posted at www.dakotacounty.us/parks.

IF YOU NEED TO CANCELRefund policy posted at www.dakotacounty.us/parks, click Programs & Events.

SCHOLARSHIPSCall 952-891-7000.

ACCESSIBILITYAt least three weeks before the program, tell us what accommo-dation would make the program accessible to you or your family.

EQUIPMENT Provided unless specified.

NEED EQUIPMENT? Rent kicksleds, snowshoes and ski equipment at the

Lebanon Hills Visitor Center. Visit

www.dakotacounty.us/parks, search equipment rental.

Hike, camp, play. Ski, sled, snowshoe. Have a wild time in Whitetail Woods.

www.dakotacounty.us/parks, search Whitetail Woods

find us on facebook

NOWOPENWhitetail Woods Regional Park

Go GreenGo GreenGo Green


Farmland is green

space tooPROTECTING DAKOTA COUNTY'S

CHANGING LANDSCAPE

23 PRESERVING OPEN SPACE 24 GUIDE TO RECYCLING 25 TURNING OLD INTO NEW

WE ALL KNOW THAT FARMLAND is important for food pro-duction, and preserving local farms means having access to locally grown products. That means fresh produce at a reason-able price. But there’s a lot more value to farmland than the food it provides.

NOWOPEN


Go Green | Preserving open space

B eginning in the 1950s, metro area counties, like Dakota County, experienced rapid

population growth, resulting in suburban expansion. At that time, about 85 percent of County land (316,000 acres) was used for agricultural production, but it wasn’t until 1980s and 90s when large portions of farmland began to vanish. This was especially true for the suburban areas closest to St. Paul and Minneapolis. According to the U.S. Census of Agriculture, in the 64 years leading up to 2012, Dakota County lost almost 100,000 acres of farmland. Why should we care? Well, because farmland is green space too.

When farms use sound soil and water conservation practices, farmland can help prevent erosion and protect wetlands. Farmland can provide critical habitat to wildlife, offering food and cover. Farmland can filter wastewater and plays a key role in recharging groundwater. Even more significant, Dakota County recognizes that there is shoreline (rivers, creeks, lakes and wetlands) contained within farmland. Finally, farmland is an important part of the Dakota County landscape, providing lush green scenery that benefits everyone. Farmland is part of the County’s quality of life.

Working farms are good for the economy as well. Farms and farm-related businesses in Dakota County have an economic impact of more than $573 million. In addition, while working farms pay taxes, they require less in services (roads, schools, police, fire) than housing developments.

In the 1990s, Dakota County developed the Farmland and Natural

Areas Program (FNAP) in response to public concerns about the changing Dakota County landscape. After strong resident support in the 2001 Dakota County Resident Survey and the 2002 Trust for Public Land’s independent poll, Dakota County Commissioners placed a $20 million bond referendum on the November 2002 ballot to provide funding for the protection of farmland and natural areas.

In 2002, voters approved FNAP. The purpose of this voluntary program was to identify and permanently protect 5,000–10,000 acres of high-priority Dakota County farmlands and natural areas over a 10-year span. Relying on federal funding, land owner cooperation and approval, the program is focused on protecting areas based on soil productivity, wildlife habitat, water quality and future use. Preference is given to land with shoreline, giving Dakota County the opportunity to develop buffers to protect crucial waterways and wetlands. Based on these criteria, the plan identified a possible 36,000 acres of natural areas and 42,000 acres of farmland for protection.

To date, the FNAP is responsible for protecting a total of 8,413 acres with projects in progress totaling another 1,948 acres, utilizing a total of $11.4 million in federal funding. The program is on the brink of exceeding their 10,000-acre goal. Changes to federal funding and evolving goals could change the program to focus even more on protecting and improving water quality and natural areas. These changes could take place within the next few months.

Need a guide? Wondering what and where to recycle? We’ve got you covered www.dakotacounty.us,search Green Guide

Plastic bags can be recycled. Bubble wrap can’t. Carpet scraps can. Styrofoam can’t.

When you come across dif-ferent items as you’re cleaning out your house or garage, do you find yourself wondering where they truly belong? Some things are still considered trash, while others that used to be trash are now recyclable.

But do they get recycled in your curbside cart or at a recy-cling facility? It can be hard to keep up.

That’s why Dakota County provides the Green Guide, a convenient online tool that you can refer to when you simply can’t remember whether bat-teries belong in the garbage or paint should be poured down the drain. (Hint: They don’t, and it shouldn’t.)

This autumn when you rake up fallen leaves, go to the Green Guide to see what to do with them. Later, when your holiday lights no longer work, use the guide to see where they can be recycled. And come next spring when you’re cleaning the house, keep the Green Guide easily accessible to find out what to do with just about anything.


Go Green | Turning old into new

You know those shoes you’re wearing? They used to make your car run. And that bicycle you’re riding? It used to hold your tomato soup. If it’s recycled, that is.

You already know recycling is a good thing to do. That’s why you fill your curbside recycling cart with glass, plastic and paper products. But how do you handle the batteries, television or toaster oven you want to get rid of?

The Recycling Zone, 3365 Dodd Road, Eagan, is accepting more materials for free than ever before, including vacuum cleaners, power tools and electric toothbrushes. Bringing them to the facility in Dakota County is the first step in turning old items into new treasures.

At The Recycling Zone, everything from electronics to hazardous waste gets collected and sorted. Different items are then shipped to other facilities — in Dakota County, the Twin Cities and as far away as the Chicago area — to be broken down and reused or recycled.

Precious and non-precious metals, glass and plastic components, and the battery that make up your outdated computer are recovered and sent to specialized recycling facilities to become other products, such as new electronics and automotive parts. Fluorescent bulbs get separated into bits of glass, metal, plastic, mercury and

more before being recycled into new products. Latex paint is blended and made into new paint. Leftover solvents like brake cleaner and paint thinner are sent to another location to be blended with fuel. The list goes on.

Depending on the item, the journey to a new beginning may be long. But no matter how many steps it takes to recycle valuable materials, only one step requires your help — a step toward The Recycling Zone. Recent updates at the facility make that step even simpler. Improved interior signage clearly marks where your products go, and a relocated check-in desk gets you in and out faster. An expanded reuse area also gives you more space to browse a variety of free products.

See for yourself when you drive up, drop off and do good.

Recycle this into that

Things aren’t always what they

seem. Recycled products feature components that used to have an

entirely different purpose.

Get in the zoneA trip to The Recy-cling Zone is the first step in turning old into newwww.dakotacounty.us, search Recycling Zone

New hours The Recycling Zone is celebrating its 20th anniversary by accepting new materials and expanding its hours. Drop off everything from televisions to paint and batteries to fluorescent light bulbs for free recycling during the following times:

• Wednesdays, 9 a.m.–8 p.m.• Thursdays, noon–8 p.m.• Fridays, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.• Saturdays, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.

Televisions

Fluorescent bulbs

Propane tanks

Auto batteries

Computers

Fine jewelry

Glass countertops

Steel bridges

Plastic compost

bins

Patio furniture

W H I T E T A I L W O O D SR E G I O N A L P A R K

M E E T

W H I T E T A I L W O O D S

A small, picturesque lake at the heart of rolling hills and prairies; oak, pine and cedar stands; and pristine wetlands make this 456-acre parcel of land regional park-worthy and a sight to see.

In fact, it’s been nearly 30 years since the last

regional park, Miesville Ravine Park Reserve, opened in southeast Dakota County. But now the wait is over. Say “hello” to the newest member of Dakota County Parks’ forever wild family, Whitetail Woods Regional Park.

It’s not every day that a new park opens in Dakota County, or anywhere else for that matter.

This new park is just another demonstration of how strongly the Board of Commissioners supports the Dakota County regional system. They recognize the importance parks play in enriching the quality of life for residents.

www.dakotacounty.us, search Whitetail Woods

Feature | Meet Whitetail Woods

Dakota County conducted a regional study for a potential new park in the southwest part of the county in 2002. In all, seven sites were evaluated. Of those, the location of Whitetail Woods rose to the top of the list. The outstanding features that made this location most appealing were its proximity to Lakeville, Farmington and Rosemount and the beautiful, high-quality natural resources. This location also presented important opportunities for partnering with other agencies to provide more options in outdoor recreation and to manage and restore the area.

Phase 2Location


In 2001, an updated Parks System Plan was developed to evaluate the current Dakota County Park System as a whole — where the County and regional parks were located, what communities were being served by each park and where gaps existed.

In reviewing the plan, it became evident that residents in the southwestern portion of the County — particularly, the communities of Lakeville and Farmington — were not being served by a nearby regional park. Also, population growth indi-cators showed a 45-percent increase in the number of residents in the rapidly growing Lakeville, Farmington and Rosemount areas from 2000–2020.

Based on that input, three park design concepts were devel-oped and a final Park Development Plan was created that includes a picnic area, performance area, children’s nature play area, camper cabins, disc golf course, a dog agility course and miles of trails. The plan will be used to guide development over the coming years to make the completed park vision a reality.

Phase 1

Phase 4

Evaluate

Designs & concepts

Deciding whether (or not) to add a new park to the County park system and then when and where to put it takes years and is based on a number of factors. The process for establishing the beautiful new Whitetail Woods Regional Park began more than a decade ago.

Once the site study was complete and approved by the Dakota County Board of Commissioners and the Metropolitan Council, negotiations began with the land owner. Funding for the park purchase was shared by the state, the Metropolitan Council and the County.

When the purchase was complete, the next step was to determine what this park would look like and what ameni-ties it would include. Expert technical research was con-ducted and input was gathered from County residents, the neighboring cities and township, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the University of Minnesota and others.

Phase 3Funding & purchase

How Whitetail Woods came to be

1

2

5

67

4

3

Scenic views

3

Campercabins

2

Dogpark

Delving deeper into the park, a peaceful and scenic valley

gives way to a large hilltop picnic area that provides sprawling views

of the countryside, including the 835-acre Vermillion River Wildlife and Aquatic Management Area to

the south and east and Empire Lake to the west.

As you enter the park, mixed hardwoods

quickly opens to grassland prairies that will house a

future off-leash dog park with separate areas for large and

small dogs, a hunting dog training area, and an

agility course.

Nearby, a dense stand of pines surround year-

round primitive camper cabins that offer an overnight experience

free of modern intrusions — no television, video games or radio —

just peace and quiet among the rustling pines. Four to six people can

stay in each cabin — perfect for overnight or week-long outings

with family and friends.

1


Whitetail Woods something for everyone

What you do when you get to the park depends on how much you want to ex-ert yourself. Ten miles of hiking trails can take you from the picnic area through scenic hollows and around Empire Lake before connecting to the pine woods and camper cabins on the park’s north end. In winter, the trail becomes a cross-country skier’s dream as it connects to the 11-mile Lone Rock ski trail in the neighboring wildlife management area. If skiing isn’t your forte, bring a group of friends and get a little downhill adven-ture on the 915-foot-long lit sledding hill.

If you’re the more laid-back type, mean-der through every inch of the park on snowshoes to take in places you won’t see in summer, pack a picnic lunch to enjoy just about anywhere in the park, hunt for geocache treasures among the plants and trees, or just relax next to the hilltop fireplace.

A future visitor center is planned for

the picnic area along with a 9-hole disc golf course

and a unique and intimate outdoor space for wedding

ceremonies and family photos.

Visitorcenter

Below the picnic area, the picturesque Empire Lake

offers beautiful scenic vistas as it gently empties into one of the

most pristine wetlands in the area. Snapping turtles, eagles, egrets, herons and sandhill cranes are

common visitors along with ducks, whitetail deer, rabbits,

coyotes and other wildlife.

Gathering area

A magnificent stone shelter — with catering

kitchen and seating for up to 100 — is perched atop the highest point

to offer the best views of thousands of acres of rolling hills and countryside

in the heart of Dakota County. The sizeable gathering area offers a king-size

outdoor fireplace, family picnic sites and a performance area with hillside

seating for up to 500 for music and theater performances and

other events.

5

EmpireLake 7

A nature play area uses water, logs,

stumps and other natural items to show

kids a good time.

Natureplay

6

4

Whitetail Woods Whitetail Woods Regional Park

shares its east border with the Vermillion Highlands Modified Wildlife Management Area, its south border with the Vermil-lion River Wildlife and Aquatic Management Area, and its north border with the Univer-sity of Minnesota’s UMore Park — making Whitetail Woods the latest addition to the nearly 5,000-acre natural area that will remain protected open space in Dakota County.Whitetail Woods Regional Park is located at

17100 Station Trail in Farmington — just east of the City of Rosemount off County Road 46.

GET AWAY IN THE WILD Experience an overnight in Dakota County Parks like never before — in a rustic cabin in the woods — any time of year. Fourteen-foot glass walls in the raised camper cabins offer a sense of sleeping in a treehouse amidst a dense pine forest.

Built-in bunk beds and two daybeds comfortably sleep four adults or two adults and four children. Electricity, table and chairs, privacy shades, 100-square-foot patio, fire ring with firewood, picnic table, and access to summer hiking and winter ski trails are just some of what you can

expect at this peaceful over-night retreat. Heated shower and restroom facilities are less than 300-feet away. Cabins are available for just $60 per night. Reservations for this unique stay in the wild open soon. Watch our website for details.

COATES

MENDOTA HEIGHTS

LILYDALE

SOUTH ST PAUL

WEST ST PAUL

MENDOTA

INVER GROVE

HEIGHTS

SUNFISH LAKE

EAGAN

BURNSVILLE

NININGER TWP HASTINGS

ROSEMOUNT

MARSHAN TWP

RAVENNATWP

EMPIRE TWP

VERMILLION TWP

LAKEVILLE

APPLE VALLEY

FARMINGTON

VERMILLION

DOUGLAS TWP

EUREKA TWP

CASTLE ROCK TWP

HAMPTON TWP

NEW TRIERHAMPTONMIESVILLE

RANDOLPH TWP

SCIOTA TWP

WATERFORD TWP

GREENVALETWP

RANDOLPH

NORTHFIELD


Before becoming a regional park, the land was part of an 11,500-acre buffer acquired by the U.S. government in 1942 to develop Gopher Ordnance Works, a munitions plant that manufactured smokeless gunpowder during World War II. Over the years, the land was mostly used for hunting and farming. In 2008, the land was purchased by Dakota County for a park.

COME TOGETHERInvite the whole gang to spread out and enjoy good food and good friends at the exquisite sheltered picnic area in Whitetail Woods. The shelter walls are wrapped with attractive dark gray Virginia slate that contains beautiful red stripes of jasper — waste rock deemed unusable from a taconite mine in our own Virginia, Minne-sota. Other features include a prep kitchen with refrigerator and running water, concrete serving counters, electrical outlets, oversized outdoor fireplace, and seating for up to 100 under roof and an additional 100 in the adjoining area. The shelter overlooks Empire Lake, the hillside per-formance center, and the rolling countryside that surrounds the park. Rental is $100/day. Shelter use is first-come, first-serve the remainder of 2014. Reservations for the 2015 season will open in early January.

EXPLORE ON FOOTWhether you walk or run, you do it in a park for the scen-ery, and Whitetail Woods has more than its share. In the first construction phase you’ll be able to hike miles of soft surfaced trails with overlooks of beautiful surrounding landscape and the charming Empire Lake. Some hiking trails will become snowshoe trails while others become classic groomed ski trails that gently follow the hills and valleys of this spectacular regional park. Future park plans include hard-surfaced trails for walking and bicycling.

Join us for a grand opening celebration of this one-of-a-kind park on

Saturday, Sept. 27 11 am–3 pm

The event will feature live music by

Twin Cities sensation The Honeydogs,

horse-drawn wagon rides, a 5K run/walk,

food and fun.

GRAND OPENING

DO THE UNEXPECTED. Take 20 minutes out of your day,

do what young people all over the

world are dying to do: VOTE— Rick Mercer, political satirist

November 4th 2014

www.dakotacounty.us, search poll finder

LILYDALE WEST ST. PAUL

SOUTH ST. PAUL

SUNFISH LAKE

MENDOTA HEIGHTS

EAGAN

BURNSVILLE

APPLE VALLEY ROSEMOUNT

NININGER

HASTINGS

RAVENNA

MARSHAN

VERMILLION TWP

VERMILLIONEMPIRE

COATES

FARMINGTON

LAKEVILLE

EUREKA

GREENVALE

WATERFORD

SCIOTA

CASTLE ROCK HAMPTON TWP

NEW TRIER

HAMPTON

RANDOLPH TWP

NORTHFIELD

MIESVILLE

DOUGLAS

INVER GROVE HEIGHTS

RANDOLPH

5

3

4

6

7

1

2

MENDOTA

Mike SlavikDistrict 1 T: 651-438-4427Includes the cities of Coates, Farmington, Hampton, Hastings, Miesville, New Trier, Randolph, Vermil-lion, Northfield Precinct 2; town-ships of Castle Rock, Douglas, Empire, Eureka, Greenvale, Hampton, Marshan, Nininger, Randolph, Ravenna, Sciota, Vermillion and Waterford.

Kathleen A. GaylordDistrict 2T: 651-438-4428 Includes the cities of South St. Paul, West St. Paul, Sunfish Lake, and Inver Grove Heights Precincts 1 and 8–10.

Thomas A. EganDistrict 3T: 651-438-4429 Includes the cities of Lilydale, Mendota, Mendota Heights, and Eagan Precincts 1–7 and 9–12.

Nancy SchouweilerDistrict 4T: 651-438-4430Includes the cities of Inver Grove Heights Precincts 2–7; Eagan Precincts 8 and 13–17; and Rosemount Precincts 1–2, 4, and 6–7.

Liz WorkmanDistrict 5T: 651-438-4431Includes the city of Burnsville.

Paul J. KrauseDistrict 6T: 651-438-4243Includes the city of Lakeville.

Chris GerlachDistrict 7T: 651-438-4411Includes the cities of Rosemount Precincts 3 and 5, and Apple Valley.


Community | Your Commissioners

Back row: Chris Gerlach, Liz Workman (Chair), Paul J. Krause, Thomas A. Egan Front row: Mike Slavik, Kathleen A. Gaylord, Nancy Schouweiler

www.dakotacounty.us/parks, search Whitetail Woods

dakota county newsletter - fall/winter 2014

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