Park district, 3 Rivers outline trail acquisition plan; council and neighbors ask for earlier joint work session

Representatives from the park district and 3 Rivers updated the Dayton City Council on plans to advance the West Mississippi River Regional Trail through Dayton and requested feedback on public engagement steps.

The presentation, delivered by a parks staff member and 3 Rivers representatives, reviewed the trail route in Dayton and the project schedule the organizations proposed for April–June: tabling at the county corridor study open house April 19; a mailing to adjacent property owners April 15 offering private meetings; online engagement beginning in late April; a city open house May 14 and a regional open house May 20 (Eastman Nature Center, Elm Creek Park Reserve); and a planned June joint workshop with council and the Parks Commission to review community feedback and preliminary options.

City staff and 3 Rivers said acquisitions so far have been on a voluntary, willing-seller basis and limited to parcels where the long‑range plan shows a wider corridor (the council packet cited pages 23–29 of the city long‑range plan and the 2018 Regional Trail Cooperative Agreement). The presenters said two closings had already occurred (Lawndale properties and, planned, 17020 Dayton River Road) and that other landowners have contacted 3 Rivers to express interest in selling.

Multiple council members and residents said they were surprised and concerned about what they described as a shift from easements to acquiring entire properties. One council member asked that councilers have a work session with the Parks Commission and 3 Rivers before the planned public meetings, arguing that the council should provide parameters in advance if its expectations have changed since the original 2016 resolution of support. A resident who owns waterfront property said where the trail would pass near houses could require significant bank or yard work and that heirs considering selling need clarity about impacts before completing sales.

3 Rivers staff said the organization has been following the 2016–2018 planning documents and emphasized that acquisitions to date were on a willing‑seller basis in locations where the corridor is wider. Staff agreed to defer adjacent‑owner meetings and online outreach until after the May 6 joint work session so council and Parks Commission concerns could be addressed and the engagement letter revised to reflect council direction.

Council members asked staff to identify specific parcels where construction would require more than an easement because of topography (ravines, steep banks) and to flag those in the outreach materials. Several members also urged coordination with the county corridor study, because future County road alignment changes could affect where right of way is available for the trail.

Next steps: 3 Rivers and city staff will hold a May 6 joint work session with the Parks Commission before broader outreach and will postpone adjacent‑owner meetings until after that session. The timeline presented kept the May 14 open house and the May 20 regional open house as target engagement events, subject to any changes the council requests.