Rosemount City Council shows support for greenways

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The Rosemount City Council adopted a resolution of support for the Rosemount Regional Greenway and Vermillion Highlands Regional Greenway Tuesday night. The resolution will go to the Dakota County Board of Commissioners when they consider approving plans for the greenways later this summer.

Rosemount parks director Dan Schultz said because the two greenways will bring amenities to Rosemount it seemed relevant for the council to weigh in on the plans. City staff was part of the technical advisory group for the two projects. The parks and recreation board reviewed the plans and recommended the resolution.

Lillian Leatham, Hoisington Kogler Group, explained the plans to the council. Hoisington Kogler developed the plans for the county.

The Rosemount Regional Greenway will start with a trail head at Lebanon Hills Regional Park-Schultz Lake Beach, head down Dodd Road, pass through Rosemount’s Central Park and then follow the Rosemount Interpretive Trail corridor. The greenway will connect Lebanon Hills with Spring Lake Regional Park in eastern Rosemount.

The Vermillion Highlands Regional Greenway will connect Lebanon Hills and the new regional park to be built in Empire Township. This greenway will pass through Eagan, Rosemount and Empire. The greenway will link local parks in the various communities as well as Dakota County Technical College and future UMore Park developments.

John Mertens, with the Dakota County Office of Planning and Analysis said they consider the plan an improvement to the previous regional trails plan because it offers more than just trails. The greenways include expanded natural areas and a connected trail system that will link to community amenities such as ball fields and DCTC.

While the whole county will benefit, Rosemount stands to gain from the proposed plan as several of the greenway plans go through the community.

“We seeing it being a real benefit to Rosemount because it will connect major amenities in our community,” said Schultz of the project.

Schultz said passing the resolution shows Rosemount is on board with the county’s plans.

“I applaud what you’re doing,” mayor Bill Droste told the county representatives. Droste said he wished the plan had come a couple years sooner.

Council member Jeff Weisensel asked when residents should expect to see construction. Mertens answered that it would be gradual over the coming years.

Councilman Matt Kearny asked when the county will start securing easements for the greenways. Leatham said the county will do much of the land acquisition as development happens or follow trails currently established.

The plan should go before the Dakota County Board of Commissioners sometime in July. Upon approval from the county the plan will be forwarded to the Metropolitan Council for their approval as well.

Tags: dakota county, news, rosemount, government