January 2024 Newsletter 🥾
JANUARY NEWSLETTER
Bike to Hike Update | Dakota County Parks Jobs | Parks Strategic Planning
BIKE TO HIKE UPDATE
Wilderness in the City's board of directors presented a $2,000 donation to Dakota County Parks last week. Our Bike to Hike campaign will fund bike racks and trail use signage at two popular Lebanon Hills trailheads.
We can't wait to see the bike racks and trail use signage installed this spring. Thank you to all of our supporters that helped make this happen!
CAREERS WITH DAKOTA COUNTY PARKS
Dakota County is continuing to invest in Natural Resources and Visitor Services staff! Recent hires, upcoming, and open positions include:
2 Natural Resources Specialists have been hired to start in February.
3 Natural Resources Field Crew positions will be open soon. The county board has approved full-time, dedicated staff to replace hiring contractors.
Open Visitor Services Positions include Park Operations Coordinator, Outdoor Education Coordinator, and Temporary Park Naturalist.
Guest Services Specialists and various seasonal roles in campgrounds, park attendance, park rangers, and summer programs will be listed soon on the Dakota County Website.
DAKOTA COUNTY STRATEGIC PLANNING
Dakota County is beginning a strategic planning process to update three county-wide plans. These plans will affect policies, programs, and projects over the next 5-10 years in all county parks including Lebanon Hills Regional Park. We anticipate that public involvement in this process will start this spring. Stay connected with us to make sure your voice is heard!
Park System Plan - This plan, last updated in 2008, will provide an overall vision for Dakota County Parks and develop effective strategies for the system's growth, service delivery, resource management and funding.
Visitor Services Plan - Last updated in 2017, this plan improves services that enrich the overall parks experience, including events, outdoor education, volunteerism, rentals, customer service and community outreach and awareness.
Natural Resources Plan - The Lebanon Hills 2017 plan will be incorporated into this new county-wide guide for county park, conservation easement, and greenway natural resources management.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
Your contribution is vitally important to the work we do to preserve and protect Lebanon Hills Regional Park for future generations. Wilderness in the City is a 501c3 non profit — all contributions are tax-deductible.