River to River Greenway MASTER PLAN Adopted by the Dakota County Board of Commissioners August 25, 2015 Approved by the Metropolitan Council January 2017 River to River Greenway MASTER PLAN Acknowledgments Dakota County Board of Commissioners Master Plan Consultants River to River Greenway Technical Advisory Group (TAG) District 1 - Mike Slavik Hoisington Koegler Group, Inc. District 2 - Kathleen A. Gaylord Kurt Chatfield, Dakota County District 3 - Thomas A. Egan Steve Sullivan, Dakota County Bolton & Menk Chris Hartzell, Dakota County District 4 - Nancy Schouweiler Ben Boike, City of West St. Paul District 5 - Liz Workman The 106 Group Matt Saam, City of West St. Paul District 6 - Mary Liz Holberg Nolan Wall, City of Mendota Heights Paul J. Krause (2014) John Mazzitello, City of Mendota Heights District 7 - Chris Gerlach Chris Esser, City of South St. Paul River to River Greenway Master Plan Project Support Provided By: Manager Statewide Health Improvement Program (SHIP) John Mertens, Senior Planner, Dakota County Minnesota Department of Health Office of Planning Dakota County Public Health River to River Greenway MASTER PLAN 2015 i Table of Contents Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION 1 Overview Planning Context & Master Plan Process Recreation Needs Chapter 2: EXISTING CONDITIONS 13 Overview Existing Cultural Resources Existing Natural Resources Chapter 3: THE PLAN 23 Development Plan Key Initiatives Interpretive Plan Stewardship Plan Chapter 4: IMPLEMENTATION & MANAGEMENT 67 Appendix A: Public Input & Resolutions of Support A-1 ii River to River Greenway MASTER PLAN 2015 Figures & Tables FIGURES & TABLES Table 9. Population forecasts for communities adjacent to the River to River Greenway 9 Figure 41. Dodd Road Underpass Conceptual Section Looking North 41 Figure 10. Core and Primary Service Areas 10 Figure 41a. Dodd Road Underpass Conceptual Section Looking East 41 Figure 17. Existing Trail Issues - West 17 Figure 45. River to River Regional Greenway Segment 2 Concept Plan 45 Figure 18. Existing Trail Issues - East 18 Figure 46. Marthaler Park Area Detail Diagram 46 Figure 19. Known Cultural Resources 19 Figure 48. Robert Street Area Detail Diagram 48 Figure 21. Existing Natural Resources (MLCCS & MCBS) 21 Figure 50. Visualization of Option #1 trail improvements south of Thompson Ave on Oakdale Ave 50 Figure 24. Typical Greenway Trail Corridor Section 24 Table 59. Habitat Investment Strategies 59 Figure 25. Regional Trail Connections 25 Figure 60. Habitat Investment Areas 60 Figure 26. River to River Greenway Concept Plan 26 Figure 63. Water Quality Improvements 63 Table 28. Parallel to Road, Off-Road Trail Alignment 28 Table 69. River to River Greenway Priority Projects 69 Table 30. Grade Separated Crossings 30 Figure 70. River to River Greenway Priority Projects 70 Figure 31. Grade Separated Crossings Map 31 Figure 72. Property Ownership 72 Figure 32. Typical At-grade, Mid-block Road Crossing with Median Refuge 32 Table 72a. Protection and Steward Partnership Lands (for 30-foot wide trail corridor) 72 Figure 33. Greenway Lighting Plan 33 Table 74. Pavement Management Activities 74 Figure 34. Wayfinding Examples 34 Table 77. River to River Greenway Capital Development Cost Estimates 77 Figure 35. Wayfinding Sign Plan - Western River to River Greenway 35 Table 79. River to River Greenway Natural Resources Collaborative Project Opportunities 79 Figure 36. Wayfinding Sign Plan - Eastern River to River Greenway 36 Table 80. River to River Greenway Estimated Annual Operations and Maintenance Costs 80 Figure 37. River to River Regional Greenway Trail Alignments and Segments 37 Figure 39. River to River Greenway Segment 1 Concept Plan 39 Figure 40. Dodd Road/Hwy 110 Area Detail Diagram 40 River to River Greenway MASTER PLAN 2015 iii The River to River Greenway crosses Bigfoot Creek in Valley Park, a City of Mendota Heights park. iv River to River Greenway MASTER PLAN 2015 Introduction 1 OVERVIEW The River to River Greenway is an evolution of the North Urban Regional Trail, which was planned 20 years ago. The eight-mile long, east-west greenway corridor connects the Mississippi River at Lilydale, just downstream of its confluence with the Minnesota River, to the Mississippi River at South St. Paul. Most of the paved trail along the corridor exists today with trailheads at the Big Rivers Regional Trailhead in Lilydale and the Simon’s Ravine Trailhead in Kaposia Park on Concord Street North. The greenway’s context is urban and suburban development consisting of residential and commercial areas and parks in Mendota Heights, West St. Paul, and South St. Paul. The River to River Greenway Master Plan f describes enhancements to the existing trail to bring it up to regional standards; f envisions improvements to water quality, habitat, recreation, and non-motorized transportation along the corridor; f provides strategies for interpretation, resource stewardship, development, land acquisition, and operations; The River to River Greenway is shown in red on the map above. f estimates project costs; f and satisfies requirements for Metropolitan Council regional destination trail and greenway planning. River to River Greenway MASTER PLAN 2015 1 Dakota County Greenway Vision In the 2008 Dakota County Park System Plan and the 2010 Dakota County Greenway Guidebook, the County has established a progressive vision for an interconnected system of open space corridors – i.e. greenways. Minneapolis’ Grand Rounds system of parks and trails serves as an example and an inspiration for the Dakota County greenway vision. Dakota County Park System Plan The 2008 Dakota County Park System Plan established the foundation for a county- wide greenway network by envisioning regional greenways that connect parks, schools, local trails, and libraries through the nonrural portions of the county. Dakota County’s greenway vision suggests 200 miles of regional greenways, 2/3 of which are on land currently in public or semipublic ownership. A priority is to implement more than 50 miles of greenways by 2020. Dakota County Greenway Collaborative: The Greenway Guidebook In 2010, Dakota County adopted the Dakota County Greenway Guidebook as a framework for greenway development. The guidebook establishes a framework for a collaborative approach to governance, stewardship, design, and operation of greenways. 2 Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION PLANNING CONTEXT The River to River Greenway travels through the cities of Lilydale, Mendota Heights, West St. Paul, and South St. Paul. Several planning efforts guide the greenway’s development: f Metropolitan Council 2030 Regional Parks Policy Plan, December 2010 f Dakota County Park System Plan, 2008 f Dakota County Greenway Guidebook, 2010 f City of Mendota Heights 2030 Comprehensive Plan f City of South St. Paul 2030 Comprehensive Plan f City of West St. Paul 2030 Comprehensive Plan f West St. Paul Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan f Robert Street Grade Separated Crossing Feasibility Study f Future Development at Mendota Plaza f TH 110 Grade Separated Crossing Study River to River Greenway MASTER PLAN 2015 3 GREENWAY MASTER PLANNING PROCESS T echnical Advisory Group The eight-month-long planning process was a collaborative effort of multiple agencies and jurisdictions. A technical advisory group met regularly, Dakota County led the process with advice from a technical advisory group formed to guide the master plan. including representatives from: f City of Mendota Heights Stakeholder Input f City of West St. Paul A technical advisory group met during each phase of master planning to provide guidance, provide insight f City of South St. Paul into technical questions, explore options, identify partnership opportunities, and discuss concurrent projects. f Dakota County Parks Department In addition to providing specific guidance, the TAG institutionalized a collaborative planning process and established relationships across agencies with a stake in implementing the master plan. Four TAG meetings f Dakota County Office of Planning were held on Sept. 11, Oct. 23, Dec. 11, 2014, and Feb. 18, 2015. State Health Improvement Program (SHIP) Priority Populations Input Specific outreach was made to engage and get input from SHIP priority populations. These populations include SHIP Priority Populations Input people over 55 years old, children, people with lower median income, and people with mobility issues. A questionnaire was distributed at several locations asking for feedback on trail accessibility, connections, and SHIP priority population input included the amenity enhancements. The following outreach efforts were made: following desires: f More local trail connections, especially f Living Longer Strong meeting on September 18, 2014 along Oakdale and Marie Avenues f Open House at Covington Court Apartments on Marie Avenue, held in coordination with the Marie f Pedestrian-scale lighting along the entire Ave/Oakdale Ave Trail Feasibility Study on October 9, 2014 corridor, especially during the fall and f Joint Open House with the West St. Paul Marie-Oakdale Feasibility Study on November 5, 2015 winter when the sun sets early f Questionnaires distributed to parents of students who attend Garlough Elementary School f Benches at frequent locations along the f trail and placed in groups of 2-3 benches Presentation at and input received at Thompson Park Advisory Council for Seniors meeting on January for larger walking groups 22, 2015 See the box to the left for specific comments gathered from these groups. 4 Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION February 2015 Open House