Dakota Rail Regional Trail Extension

The Park District is developing a master plan amendment for the Dakota Rail Regional Trail. The segment of the Dakota Rail Regional Trail managed by the Park District currently runs from downtown Wayzata to the Hennepin County border in Minnetrista. The trail continues west to Lester Prairie; Carver and McLeod counties manage the trail segments in their respective counties. This master plan amendment will focus on extending the trail eastward from downtown Wayzata to Minnetonka City Hall. In 2018, the Dakota Rail Regional Trail served an estimated 489,513 people (Met Council estimate). The extension of the trail is expected to increase the number of users by expanding the service area and better connecting users to the following:

• Parks, green spaces, and nature areas
• Shopping, dining, and activity centers
• The regional trail network

Research recap

From fall 2017 to June 2018, the Park District conducted the West Metro Regional Trails study, which included an extensive amount of community engagement regarding the Dakota Rail Regional Trail extension. Community engagement activities included in-person activities (pop-up sessions, open houses, listening sessions) and online engagement (community survey, online interactive mapping, project website). Through the engagement activities, the Park District gathered the following guiding principles for the route selection:

• Promote user safety
• Improve overall pedestrian and bicycle network
• Connect to local destinations, including parks/nature and activity centers
• Be fiscally responsible
• Be environmentally sustainable
• Maximize trail experience (accessibility for all, parking, drinking water, restrooms, etc.)

Using these principles as a guide, Three Rivers Park District created a proposed alignment in conjunction with the community. Below is a map of the final proposed alignment.