In case you missed it last week, Thisweek Newspapers included its first “Community!” guide , which is packed with useful information for visitors and longtime residents.
The concept behind the full distribution of “Community!” inside Thisweek Newspapers to about 60,000 households in Dakota County is that it will serve as a resource for those living here and a reference when they have friends who have traveled here from out of town. My suggestion is to keep “Community!” on the shelf next to your phone books and refer to it when you are itching for something to do.
The editorial, production and advertising staff put in some long hours to pull all of the information together, and I’d like to thank them for all of their efforts.
As someone who has owned a house in Dakota County and reported extensively in the local area for the past six years, it was an eye-opening project in one distinct way.
It is amazing how much there is to do and see in Dakota County. I
realized that while I’ve experienced a lot of what our cities have to
offer, there is much more to explore.
Aside from the “Community!” regional list of events and attractions,
one of the greatest sources of inspiration to explore more was reading
about what is available in the Dakota County Regional Parks System.
I’ve spent my share of time in both the summer and winter at one of our
backyard treasures, Lebanon Hills Regional Park in Eagan and Apple
Valley.
Most Dakota County residents are familiar with Lebanon Hills and its
excellent trails for hiking, biking and cross country skiing. Many know
that they can canoe on one of Lebanon Hills’ many lakes, soak up the
son on Schulze Lake Beach or camp in the adjoining Camp Sacajawea
Retreat Center.
But the Dakota County park system extends well beyond its centrally located gem of the system.
For example, I wonder how many people have seen the scenic outlook
Spring Lake Park Reserve has of the Mississippi River. I’ve pedaled my
bike to the park between Rosemount and Hastings many times. It’s a
great place to stop on a round trip between the two cities, and it’s
recently been the beneficiary of some key upgrades, including a new
visitor center and trail improvements.
Most probably don’t know that the park also is home to camping, an archery range and model airplane airfield.
For many people, Dakota County ends when crossing the southern edges of
Farmington and Rosemount where corn and soybean fields take over the
landscape. They would be remiss if they didn’t uncover the great
recreational opportunities beyond that horizon.
A short drive down Highway 52 south to County Road 88 west will lead
one to the largest lake in the area at Lake Byllesby Regional Park.
There’s no need to head “up North” anymore with this lake’s water,
campsites and beach. Think of all the money you would save on gas, too.
If Lake Byllesby has escaped your attention, then you probably also
need to add Miesville Ravine Park Reserve to your list. The park is
about equal in size to Lebanon Hills, but the great advantage here is
there is less competition on the miles of trails along the Cannon
River.
One of the fun parts of riding my bicycle around the area is that I’ve
pedaled to pretty much every corner of Dakota County. I’m rather
aimless in my travels, so that means I’ve stumbled across each of the
county’s three regional trails – Big Rivers, North Urban and the
Mississippi River.
The regional trails are primarily located in the northern part of the
county, connecting Eagan to Lilydale, Lilydale to South St. Paul, and
South St. Paul to Hastings, respectively.
It is the discovery of recreational spots like these trails that make living in Dakota County so fulfilling.
It is wonderful that Dakota County offers all of these resources to its
residents. While spending the day in town is nice, there is something
about a hike or bike ride through new territory.
I hope you peruse our 2009 issue of “Community!” to plan your next big
discovery, and keep reading our Family, Arts and Music calendars in
Thisweek Newspapers to stay current on events planned in the parks.
To find out more about Dakota County Regional Parks, go online at www.co.dakota.mn.us and click on Leisure & Recreation.
Tad Johnson is managing editor of Thisweek Newspapers. He is at
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OPINION 
by Tad Johnson
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