Lebanon Hills Getting New Master Plan

Since 2001, the last time Dakota County prepared a master plan for Lebanon Hills Regional Park, the park's annual attendance has nearly doubled from 274,000 visitors per year to 543,000.

In August, the county will present a new master plan for its largest park that will include more than 40 miles of unpaved trails, a new paved 6.5-mile connector trail and two lake loops around Holland and McDonough lakes.

The connector trail should open the park year-round to bikers and walkers and make it more accessible to people with physical disabilities. But the possibility of a paved connector trail has raised concern among some local residents, who would prefer to see the park remain pristine.

The county has delineated other goals for the 2,000 acre park on its website:

• Strategically protect and improve the park’s ecological resources
• Complete existing visitor use areas, while maintaining the park’s natural character
• Fill gaps in basic, popular park activities, such as picnicking, bicycling and walking
• Design the park connector trail and regional greenway connections
• Strengthen partnerships to deliver effective and efficient services