Dakota County is home to 428,000 people – 8% of the state population – and has been well-represented in military service to our country. More than 25,000 Dakota County veterans have proudly served in the armed forces, protecting the nation for past, current and future generations. The county seeks state bonding to commemorate the service of veterans with the establishment of a Veterans Memorial Greenway.

VETERANS MEMORIAL GREENWAY — $5 MILLIONThe Veterans Memorial Greenway will be a 5-mile paved route through exceptionally scenic Dakota County landscapes, including river views, woodlands, farmlands, parks and the Pine Bend Bluffs Scientific and Natural Area. It will be Minnesota’s longest greenway dedicated to veterans. The greenway will provide a new connection between Dakota County’s busiest regional park, Lebanon Hills, and the county’s busiest greenway, the Mississippi River Greenway, traveling through Inver Grove Heights and Eagan. This will be the first countywide veterans memorial and will allow for five to seven memorials planned along the trail, including one large area for community gathering. The memorials will be designed and constructed in partnership with veterans’ organizations.

Development of the Veterans Memorial Greenway is also is critical to enhancing pedestrian and bicycle safety. A current route used by pedestrians, runners and bicyclists poses at-grade conflicts with nearly 20,000 trucks and other vehicles daily on State Highway 3 and County Roads 71 and 73, and an additional 34,000 vehicles on State Highway 52. There also are conflicts with trains traveling on two active rail lines through Dakota County. The completed Veterans Memorial Greenway will allow bicyclists to ride from St. Paul to Lebanon Hills Regional Park on a safer route separate from the growing volume of road traffic.

The Dakota County Board of Commissioners adopted a master plan for the greenway in 2017. A feasibility study for trail alignments has confirmed the route is possible. Much of the right-of-way for the greenway is under public ownership, and the County is obtaining the remaining segments.

Veterans from Dakota County and across Minnesota have faithfully served during peacetime and war, but unfortunately the toll of military service has weighed heavily on them. Veterans have higher rates of suicide, mental illness, homelessness, substance abuse and physical disabilities than the general population. Research has shown that time spent being active in nature is important to our well-being. A well-designed greenway that commemorates and welcomes veterans will provide an opportunity for people of all abilities to improve the quality of their lives and will enhance safety for pedestrian and bicyclists along the corridor.

Cost and partnership:

$5 million — State bonding request

$5 million — Matching funds from Dakota County, veterans’ organizations, corporate sponsors and federal grants

$10 million — Overall project cost

Dakota County 2020 Veterans Memorial Greenway

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