Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Trail Connectivity topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Trail links, snowmobile corridors and master‑plan costs dominate Dayton park work session
Summary
Council and park commissioners discussed a delayed trail connection to the dam (pushed to 2029), landowner easement barriers, county right‑of‑way plans for a 2029 roundabout, and community debate over prioritizing trails versus large master‑plan projects. Snowmobile and multi‑use trail preservation drew support and calls for etiquette and regional planning.
Dayton City council members and park commissioners spent a substantial portion of their joint work session discussing trail connectivity, the preservation of snowmobile corridors and how those priorities fit into the parks master plan and available funding.
Park commission member S6 said the final connection from LC Stevens to the dam — the trail link that would run from North Diamond Lake into Vinewood and on toward Pine Dew Lane — was moved to the 2029 schedule. Staff member S8 explained the city lacks a landing spot on the east side of North Diamond Lake Road because a required landowner refused any easement; without that landing the project cannot meet ADA requirements. S8 said the county’s planned roundabout at North Diamond Lake Road and David Road, scheduled for 2029, could provide the right‑of‑way needed for the city to finish the connection.
Council member S2 and Council member S9 expressed support for preserving snowmobile trails and asked the commission to work with snowmobiling and horseback‑riding communities to reduce conflicts and protect corridor access. “I am very pro keeping the snowmobile trails,” S2 said; S9 added that preserving access to a larger trail system is important to some residents.
Council members and commissioners also discussed survey results the commission circulated: while some residents prioritized trails and smaller investments, other proposals in the master plan drew very large cost estimates — figures speakers described as in the tens of millions for a fully built community park. Participants debated whether the city should prioritize regional grants and trail investments or proceed with planning that could lead to major capital projects.
Speakers suggested practical next steps: coordinate with county planners around the 2029 road project so trail work can be wrapped into Dayton Road reconstruction funds; continue public surveys and site visits; and consider regional planning to identify gaps in nearby communities before committing to expensive facilities. Council member S10 recommended regional tournament‑level grants only if the region lacks similar facilities.
No formal action or vote occurred on trail policy; staff and commissioners agreed to follow up with county coordination and to include trail funding discussions on future agendas.
