Dakota County parks hit 1 million visitors

They walked. They biked. They had picnics. And they came in record numbers.

For the first time, more than 1 million people visited regional parks and trails in Dakota County in 2011 in search of outdoor fun.

According to data compiled by the Metropolitan Council, that's up from 932,000 visitors in 2010. Just five years ago, in 2007, the parks drew 795,000.

"We've seen a consistent increase in use," said Steve Sullivan, the county's director of parks and open space.

Lebanon Hills Regional Park, the county's largest park, is also the busiest, accounting for more than half of the attendance, with nearly 543,000 visits in 2011. It's got a campground and a beach, and it has the most special events of any Dakota County park.

The second-most-frequented spot wasn't a traditional park, but the Big Rivers Regional Trail near Mendota, along the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers.

"People love their trails," Sullivan said.

Surveys have shown that walking, running and biking are the most popular activities in regional parks, and that trail, Sullivan said, is particularly convenient to many residents who use it year-round.

About 64 percent of the visits to the parks were made by Dakota County residents.

Dakota's climbing attendance isn't unique. The Metropolitan Council survey found that more people are visiting regional parks and trails across the seven-county metro area, for a total attendance of 43.9 million in 2011.

The five most popular spots -- each drawing more visitors than all of Dakota County's regional parks and trails combined -- are in urban areas: Minneapolis Chain of Lakes Regional Park; Como Regional Park, Zoo and Conservatory; Mississippi Gorge Regional Park; Central Mississippi Riverfront Regional Park, and Minnehaha Parkway Regional Trail.

Sullivan said population growth accounts for some of the local parks' increased popularity.

But the county also has been adding miles and miles of trails, sprucing up facilities and hatching plans for the new Whitetail Woods Regional Park, scheduled to open in 2013.

Katie Humphrey • 952-746-3286