Parks, Trails & Recreation Master Plan

STATE FACILITIES There are some notable state park and trail facilities that traverse Shakopee, mainly centered on the Minnesota River. The Minnesota Valley State Recreation Area preserves part of the Minnesota River Valley. The multi-use Minnesota Valley State Trail parallels the Minnesota River with a section of trail from Shakopee to Chaska that is paved and a natural surface trail running from Chaska to Belle Plaine. A popular segment runs through Huber Park, along the riverfront, and through Memorial Park before it continues east along Highway 101. The area is ideal for hiking, biking, cross-country skiing, horseback riding, mountain biking, and snowmobiling. The landscapes are just as diverse as the trail system and include wetlands, floodplain forest and bluff-top oak savanna. Wildlife observation and birdwatching are popular activities year-round. The Minnesota River Valley is a diverse palette of plant and animal communities. The area contains floodplain marshes, wet meadows, fens, and lakes. The wetlands are maintained by the river and by the spring- fed streams draining from the base of the bluffs. The hillsides and bluffs support oak forest and oak savanna remnants. The River often floods the trail in sections through Shakopee, with numerous trail closures and re- routing occurring in the Huber Park segment of the trail. Many residents noted that this section of trail is often closed, is slow to be cleaned up following a flood, and is overgrown.

MINNESOTA RIVER

MINNESOTA VALLEY STATE RECREATION AREA

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