Lake Marion-South Creek Greenway

d r a f tMay 2013

Lake Marion-South Creek Greenway M a s t e r P l a ne x e c u t i v e s u m m a r y

f o r M o r e i n f o r M a t i o n v i s i t w w w . h k g i . c o M / P r o j e c t s / d a k o t a

1 Lake Marion-South Creek Greenway Draft master Plan executive summary 2013

INTRODUCTION The Lake Marion-South Creek Greenway Master Plan portrays a vision to establish a greenway from the Minnesota River in Burnsville to downtown Farmington.

The Lake Marion-South Creek Greenway Master Plan emerged from the Dakota County Parks, Lakes, Trails and Greenways Vision 2030 and the Dakota County Greenway Collaborative Guidebook.

Dakota County envisions its greenways to provide multiple layers of benefits in water quality, habitat enhancement, recreation, and non-motorized transportation. The Lake Marion-South Creek Greenway travels 20 miles through Burnsville, Scott County, Lakeville, and Farmington.

Today, the landscape surrounding the greenway is varied. The greenway travels through a mix of residential neighborhoods, commercial development, local parks, Murphy-Hanrehan Regional Park Reserve (one of the finest natural resource amenities in the area), skirts the western edge of Lake Marion, through historic

Master Plan Purpose

The master plan

f Provides strategic guidance for future greenway development

f Integrates recreation, transportation, natural resource management, and improved water quality

f Provides recommendations for natural and cultural resource stewardship

f Identifies a greenway trail alignment, interpretive themes, and design direction

f Recommends implementation strategies for land protection, development phasing, capital and operations budgets, and funding.

Lake Marion/South Creek Greenway

Lake Marion-South Creek Greenway Draft master Plan executive summary 2013 2

Lake Marion

downtown Lakeville, and along the shores of South Creek before arriving in downtown Farmington. The greenway also provides a link between the Minnesota River and North Creek Greenways.

EXISTING CONDITIONSThe Lake Marion-South Creek Greenway links several natural areas of significance: The Minnesota River, Murphy Hanrehan Regional Park, Lake Marion, South Creek, and the Vermillion River. Between these natural resources is a mix of suburban development – residential and commercial areas and local parks. The greenway also connects historic downtowns in Lakeville and Farmington. Two areas will experience significant future growth: the Northwest Quadrant in Burnsville near the Minnesota River and the area along South Creek in Farmington.

Cultural Resources

Every place has a unique history with resources with which people have an emotional connection. Within the greenway corridor, there are parks, the Dan Patch line, and many recreational resources, both historic and current, that have provided people with access to nature for generations. Places and stories of interest include: Native American burial mounds near the Minnesota River; the legendary Dan Patch racehorse; Orchard Gardens, a ‘flag stop’ railroad depot on the National Register of Historic Places; early resort history- the Weichselbaum Resort on Lake Marion and other resorts on Orchard and Crystal Lakes; the 40 acre amusement park at Antlers Park; and several structures of historic age within older portions of Lakeville, Burnsville, and Farmington.

Natural Resources

The natural resources in the area surrounding the Lake Marion-South Creek Greenway consist of large complexes of high quality woodlands, prairies, and wetlands, mostly within regional and community parks. Murphy-Hanrehan Regional Park Reserve is one of the highest quality natural areas in the metro with a diverse mix of prairie, shrubland, woodland, and wetlands. Kraemer Nature Preserve, Ritter Farm Park, and Rambling River Park are also fine natural areas. The greenway area is also rich in water resources. Of note are the Minnesota River and river valley, Lake Marion, South Creek, and the Vermillion River. South Creek and the Vermillion River are DNR designated trout streams and provide opportunities for fishing recreation. Restoration work, including remeandering in some areas, is currently underway along South Creek.

Swimming at Lake Marion

Murphy Hanrehan Regional Park Reserve

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THE PLaNThe Development Plan

Development of the Lake Marion-South Creek Greenway hinges on a continuous, paved trail for nature-based recreation and non-motorized transportation. The trail is a connective feature linking recreation destinations (places people go for outdoor recreation), activity centers (gathering places along the trail), and trail connections.

Design features that are signatures of Dakota County Regional Trails include:

f Follows natural resources and has a natural design signature

f Frequent access points at full service trailheads with restrooms, picnicking, water and vehicle parking (every 3-5 miles) and smaller, more frequent, neighborhood gateways between trailheads

f Paved trails that are plowed in winter

f Grade separated crossings at major roads

f Cultural and natural resource interpretation

f Wayfinding

f High quality furnishings at trailheads, gateways and rest areas

f Universal accessibility

f Utilizes sustainable building practices and materials

f Lighting where evening use is anticipated

wayfinding is discussed as an important part in the Development Plan for the greenway. above are concepts for a Gateway Landmark wayfinding element.

Trailheads will be located at major access points along the greenway.

Judicial Road Conceptual Section


The Interpretive Plan

The interpretive plan identifies an interpretive theme and sub-themes that provide a framework for cultural and environmental interpretive education. The plan recommends that the theme and subthemes be integrated into the greenway design and interpretation concentrated at trailheads and neighborhood gateways.

Interpretive Theme

A Place for People: Lake Marion-South Creek Greenway continues to provide abundant recreational opportunities to an evolving community.

Subthemes f Active Living- Counting the Benefits: Historic and Current Recreation

Opportunities in the Corridor

f A Changing Community Identity: A Distinct Urban Fabric

f A Population Shift: We Celebrate the Changes and Respect the History that Shaped our Community

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Grade separated crossings will be used to cross major roadways or railroads.

Enhancements to at-grade crossings will improve safety

Outdoor furnishings, such as benches, bike racks, and lighting, will be placed conveniently along the greenway for resting and safety.

Downtown Lakeville


The Stewardship Plan

The linear nature of the Lake Marion-South Creek Greenway will require natural resource management strategies that are geographically targeted, cooperative, and realistic. The plan recommends restoration and protection efforts be focused on the trailhead locations, where there is the greatest opportunity for greenway users to see the results of activities. Stewardship activities in the larger greenway corridor will need to be in cooperation with public and private landowners. All stewardship actions should be evaluated through the lens of sustainability – is the stewardship effort sustainable over the long-term, from both an ecological and economic perspective.

IMPLEMENTaTION & MaNaGEMENTImplementation will depend on multi-jurisdictional collaboration. Without continued coordination between the communities and agencies that the greenway travels through it is unlikely the greenway, as it is envisioned, will be built. While the 30’ regional trail corridor will be the jurisdictional and operational responsibility of Dakota County, the larger greenway corridor will be governed in many ways depending on the situation and land ownership. As greenway segments are built, formal joint powers agreements between Dakota County and collaborating agencies will need to be established to outline specific agency responsibilities. These agreements will outline who has control over the trail right-of-way, as well as who will operate and maintain the trail and how they will do it. Similarly, responsibilities for land acquisition, construction, stewardship, operations, and maintenance will depend on the particularities of each segment.

Lake Marion-South Creek Greenway Habitat Investment areas


Land Protection and Stewardship

Dakota County’s greenway concept expands the traditional concept of a corridor to include recreation, transportation, ecological, and water quality components in a 100’ -300’ corridor. Because securing the entire width of the corridor it is not feasible, a dual approach to securing greenway lands is recommended.

f Land Protection - protecting land is essential to make the greenway usable to the public. For the Lake Marion-South Creek Greenway, this means securing lands needed for the trail corridor and trailheads. For land owned by other public agencies, Dakota County will need to permanently protect the trail corridor and trailheads for greenway trail use with easements or joint powers agreements. For land that is currently privately owned, the County will need to protect the trail corridor for public use. Land protection strategies include: park dedication, direct purchase with resale of land not required for the trail, permanent easements, land donation, bargain sale, life estate, and negotiations with cities and developers.

f Land Stewardship - refers to the care of native landscapes and habitat within the wider greenway. Generally, Dakota County will not be the lead agency in stewardship activities outside of the 30’ trail corridor, but will work as steward partners with local jurisdictions, agencies, and private landowners with funding and expertise.

Phasing and Priorities

Greenway segments have been prioritized as either first priority projects or second priority projects. It is anticipated that first priority projects will be built in advance of second priority projects but the Master Plan remains flexible so that any project can be implemented as partnership or funding opportunities arise.

f First priority projects are those that are needed to create a continuous, functional greenway experience. It is intended that recreation, water quality, and natural resource elements be integrated into the greenway at the time of initial construction.

f Second priority projects will enhance the greenway experience. These are things such as: grade separated crossings; trailhead development; and enhancements to existing trails such as landscaping, habitat restoration interpretation, wayfinding, benches, trash receptacles, etc.

Rudy Kraemer Nature Preserve

South Creek

Sunset Pond


Funding

Funding will also be a collaboration between the County, cities, and other agencies as appropriate. Cost share roles will be determined based on the strengths of each agency and circumstances of each project. In-kind contributions of land, easement, design, engineering, construction, maintenance, and operations are encouraged and will be outlined in individual joint powers agreements between agencies.

It is anticipated that most future capital projects will be positioned to secure regional, state, and federal funds for recreation, water, and habitat and that these sources will account for the majority of capital construction costs. In many cases, but not all, Dakota County, as the regional agency, will be in the best position to pursue outside funding. Examples of outside funding sources include:

f NPS Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program

f Federal Transportation Grants (MAP 21)

f Minnesota Department of Transportation

f Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

f Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

f Metropolitan Council

f The Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund

f Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Amendment

f Watershed Management Organizations

f Foundations and Nonprofits

f Statewide Health Improvement Program (SHIP)

PROJECT PRIORITY POTENTIAL TRIGGERS/PART-NERS

Segment 1: A Trailhead at MN River Regional Greenway Long Term Part of Minnesota River Greenway

B Greenway (Along Minnesota River to Hwy 13) Long Term Part of Minnesota River Greenway

c Grade separated crossing at TH 13 1st

d Gateway at Rudy Kraemer Nature Preserve 1st

e Greenway (Through Rudy Kraemer Nature Preserve) 1st

f Greenway (Rudy Kraemer Nature Preserve to Williams Dr) 1st

G Greenway (Williams Dr to Judicial Rd to Howell Park) 1st

H Improvements to greenway (Howell Park to Sunset Pond Park) 2nd

i Gateway at Sunset Pond Park 2nd

j Greenway (From Sunset Pond Park C.P. R&R corridor/CSAH 42 crossing) 1st

k Improvements to grade separated crossing at CSAH 42 1st

l Gateway at Rose Park 2nd

m Greenway (Rose Park to Kelleher Park) 2nd

n Gateway at Kelleher Park 2nd

Segment 2: o Greenway through Scott Co. By Others To be masterplanned by Scott Co/TRPD

p North Trailhead at Murphy Hanrehan Park By Others TRPD

q Greenway through Scott Co. By Others To be masterplanned by Scott Co/TRPD

r Gatewayat Murphy Hanrehan Park By Others TRPD

s Greenway (Murphy Hanrehan Park to 185th St W) 2nd

t Grade separated crossing at 185th St W) 1st

u Greenway (185th St W through Ritter Farm Park) 1st

u.1 Trailhead at Ritter Farm Park 2nd

Segment 3: v Overpass at Interstate 35 Existing

w Gateway at Casperson Park 2nd

x Greenway (Interstate 35 to 205th St W) 2nd

y Gateway at south end of Lake Marion 2nd

z Grade separated crossing at 205th St W 2nd

AA Improvements to greenway (Along 205th St W to Antlers Park) 2nd Improve existing paved trail

BB Trailhead at Antlers Park 2nd

cc Greenway (Antlers Park to Dodd Blvd) 2nd

dd Greenway (Dodd Blvd to (C.P. R&R line) 2nd Improve existing paved trail

ee Gateway at Downtown Lakeville 1st

ff Not Used

GG Greenway (208th St W to McGuire M.S. adjacent to RR) 1st

Lake Marion-South Creek Greenway North Priority Projects

Funding for annual operating and maintenance costs for the 30’ regional trail corridor and trailheads will primarily be the responsibility of Dakota County. Annual operating costs are funded though the Dakota County General Fund Budget and from regional park allocations from the Metropolitan Council. In situations where there are efficiencies in local jurisdictions performing maintenance and operations, Dakota County will enter into a joint powers agreement outlining responsibilities and cost sharing.


Second Priority ProjectLong-Term Project/ Minnesota River Greenway

ExistingFirst Priority Project

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PROJECT PRIORITY POTENTIAL TRIGGERS/PART-NERS

Segment 4: HH Greenway (McGuire M.S. to Hamburg Ave) 1st

ii Grade separated crossing at Hamburg Ave 1st

jj Greenway (Hamburg Ave to Cedar Ave) 1st

kk Grade separated crossing at Cedar Ave 1st

ll Greenway (Cedar Ave to Flagstaff Ave) 1st

mm Grade separated crossing at Flagstaff Ave 1st

nn Gateway at Flagstaff Ave 1st

oo Greenway (From Flagstaff Ave along South Creek) 1st

pp Grade separated crossing at Pilot Knob Rd extension 1st In conjunction w/ road construction

qq Greenway (Along South Creek to Spruce St) 1st

rr Gateway at Spruce St 1st

ss Greenway (Along Spruce St to Spruce St/South Creek Bridge) 1st

tt Grade separated crossing at Spruce St/South Creek Bridge 1st

uu Greenway (Along South Creek) 1st

vv Grade separated crossing at Denmark Ave/South Creek Bridge 1st

ww Greenway (Denmark Ave along South Creek) 1st

xx Greenway (to Rambling River Trailhead) 2nd

yy Rambling River Trailhead 2nd

Lake Marion-South Creek Greenway North Priority Projects

LaKE MaRION-SOUTH CREEK

GREENway MaSTER PLaN

2013

Lake Marion-South Creek Greenway

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