Politics & Government

Paving Paradise? Lebanon Hills Trail Plan Worries Residents

Dakota County officials have plans to develop a nine-mile paved bike trail in Lebanon Hills Regional Park to increase recreational opportunities. But some residents would prefer the park stay as pristine as possible.

The way Eagan resident Holly Jenkins sees it, Dakota County already has enough pavement.

In recent weeks, Jenkins has rallied a group of local residents in opposition to Dakota County's plans to install a paved, 9-mile recreational trail through Lebanon Hills Regional Park—less than a mile south of Jenkins' home.

The proposed trail would include a 6.5-mile segment connecting two paved loops around Holland Lake and McDonough Lake, according to Dakota County Parks Director Steve Sullivan. If the trail is approved, park staff would plow it during the winter, allowing walkers and bicyclers to use the route on a year-round basis, Sullivan said.

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"We’re not opposed to bike trails in general," said Jenkins, speaking on behalf of a group of worried residents. "There are so many other options for people who need pavement, we just don’t think it needs to be here."

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Dakota County officials first began considering the addition of a paved trail in the park as part of an ongoing update to the Lebanon Hills Regional Park master plan, Sullivan said. As part of the master planning process, county officials surveyed local residents, and found that one in three who responded were in favor of a paved trail in the park, Sullivan said.

Lebanon Hills, the Dakota County's largest and busiest park, has roughly 40 miles of unpaved trails, but no paved routes. That's unusual for such a large park, said Sullivan, who noted that many comparable regional parks in the metro area already have paved trail systems.

A paved trail in Lebanon Hills, Sullivan said, would expand the recreational use of the park, and allow better access for disabled visitors using wheelchairs or another means of transportation.

If the project is approved, county officials wouldn't pave over any of the park's existing trails, but would instead blaze a new route through the park, Sullivan said. The county hasn't yet determined a cost estimate for the trail, but the trail width would likely be 10 feet.

Jenkins says she frequently walks the park trails with her dog, and loves the relatively pristine nature found in the area. A paved trail would change the character of the park, Jenkins worries.

Jenkins has started a Facebook page to help publicize her preservation efforts, and says she plans to continue spreading the word about the county's plans. So far, she said, she hasn't spoken with anyone in favor of the proposal.

"Everything around us is getting more and more developed, but this one area could be that one little escape that people could continue to use," Jenkins said.

Sullivan said the county has heard Jenkins' concerns, but needs to strike a balance between preservation and recreation. The parks department will likely submit a draft trail plan in July to the Dakota County Board of Commissioners, at which point the public will have a chance to review and comment upon the trail plans.

"It’s important to Dakota County that Lebanon Hills Regional Park is a place where people can experience nature, and where we can preserve and protect those natural resource assets of the park," Sullivan said.


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