Spring Lake Park: Take the survey by May 31!

Spring Lake Park, a regional park and one of FMR's restoration sites, is home to many wild animals, like fisher, in need of habitat. (Photo by Josh More [CC]).

Now through May 31, 2020, Dakota County is looking to community members and other park-users to help guide the future of Spring Lake Park Reserve.

We hope you'll take a moment to learn more about this special place and comment via the map or take the survey!

About this special place 

Extending along the Mississippi in Hastings, Nininger Township and Rosemount for several miles, Spring Lake regional park offers stunning views of the river, miles of trails and expansive areas of natural open space, including steep forested bluffs down to the river and a native prairie restored by FMR with help from our volunteers. 

There is a good deal of natural and semi-natural vegetative cover in the park that provides critical Mississippi River habitat for birds in the flyway and wildlife. 

FMR's perspective

FMR is eager to see this park planning effort reinforce the importance of preserving and restoring natural areas while also serving the needs and interests of the most people. 

If you'd like additional context before taking the survey, here are our official comments, written with both ecological value and river corridor development in mind by our Senior Ecologist Karen Schik and River Corridor Program Director Colleen O'Connor Toberman.

View from Schaar's Bluff at Spring Lake Park Reserve in Hastings, part of the Mississippi River Corridor Critical Area.

Online open house: May 21

Dakota County staff are hosting an online open house via Zoom Thursday, May 21, 5:30-6:30 pm. Join the call to ask questions and hear more about the plan.

There's no need to RSVP, just click the link at the beginning of the meeting. (If you haven't downloaded zoom, you can click "view from browser.") And feel free to share the link with friends and family on social media:
https://dakotacountymn.zoom.us/j/99130475340  

Take the survey!

There are two ways to share your thoughts, hopes or concerns. You can visit the county's virtual concept map to learn more and leave comments. Or take the 10-question survey below.

Up for another action?

Let Dakota County know by May 28, 2020 that you support their draft plan to protect, restore and enhance additional parks and natural areas!

Or, to be notified of opportunities to weigh in on local riverfront plans or protect the river's health, sign up to be a River Guardian.

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