Lake Marion Trail

Trail Gap Study - Sunset Pond Park to Williams Drive

Virtual Open House recording from March 2, 2023

We welcome your comments and questions. Please direct inquiries about the project to Ryan Peterson, Public Works Director, at Ryan.Peterson@burnsvillemn.gov or 952-895-4459.

The City’s application for federal funding for the project was not successful. The City is now working with Dakota County to investigate the possibility of segmenting the project and using local funds for construction. 

View a map that illustrates potential project segmentation.

Green button with icon of a map point Opens in new window

Review the Project Maps


Icon of computer mouse pointer clicking

View our Interactive Map of the project area

*The interactive map is now closed for new comments but remains viewable.

Project Background:

The project is for a proposed bike trail to fill the gap on the Lake Marion Trail Greenway.

The Lake Marion Greenway is a 20-mile corridor connecting the Minnesota River Greenway in Burnsville to the Vermillion River Greenway in Farmington. Since 2017, Dakota County and the City of Burnsville have partnered on completing 3.25 miles of the Lake Marion Greenway within Burnsville. A proposed Joint Powers Agreement would provide preliminary design for the remaining 1.5 miles.

The Rose Bluff Trail was constructed three years ago and the Lake Marion Trail - Kelleher Segment is constructed now, with punch list items remaining. If the City/County can fill the gap from Rose Bluff Trail to the Sunset Pond Park parking lot there will be a 4.75 miles of the Lake Marion Greenway section within the City of Burnsville from Rudy Kraemer Nature Preserve to Kelleher Park.

The best way to get the funding to construct this gap is to complete this engineering study and preliminary plan/cost estimate in preparation for an anticipated federal grant program which is expected to be open for submissions in early summer of 2022. This will allow us to complete community outreach, show a preferred alternative, begin railroad coordination and determine any other challenges that may exist to construct the new trail. Completing a study like this will increase the odds of receiving federal funding.

Burnsville Trail Segments

  • North Segment (Rose Bluff): 0.5-mile trail segment from Kraemer Nature Preserve to Williams Drive - Completed 2018
  • South Segment: 1.6-mile segment from Sunset Park to Kelleher Park - Completed 2021
  • Middle Segment: Approximately 1.5-mile segment connecting the North and South segments - Planning Stages

Click here to download Lake Marion Greenway Master Plan (PDF) (18.5MB) 

Updated Project Map Based on Public Feedback

Marion Lake Trail Project Area Map

*The Lake Marion Trail in Burnsville gap study project is in partnership with Dakota County.