Dakota County, MN

Green Squad volunteers help our county events recycle more and create less waste. Green Squad volunteers are composed of Dakota County Recycling Ambassadors who are trained to be good stewards of our resources and to help others make smart decisions when it comes to recycling and waste management.

ATTENTION: Volunteers must first complete Dakota County's Recycling Ambassador training to participate in Green Squad events.

LeDuc Historic Estate was built between 1862 and 1866 by William Gates LeDuc and his wife Mary LeDuc near the Vermillion River in Hastings, Minnesota. The LeDucs were prominent early settlers of Minnesota and played significant roles in the state's growth from a territory to a state. Take a step back in time and hear stories about the LeDuc family and the history of the 1800s.

1629 Vermillion Street
Hastings, MN 55033
651-438-8480
Get Directions

The Estate is open to the public Thursday through Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. from May 15 through October 25 and on special occasion the rest of the year.

Address
508 Third St.
Farmington, MN 55024

Phone
651-438-0250

Regular Hours
Monday–Wednesday: Noon - 8:00 p.m.
Thursday–Saturday: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday: Closed

Closed on holidays

Address
14955 Galaxie Ave.
Apple Valley, MN 55124

Phone
952-891-7045

Hours
Monday–Thursday: 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Friday and Saturday: 9:00 a.m.– 5:00 p.m.
Sunday: 1:00 – 5:00 p.m.

Closed on holidays

Address
8098 Blaine Ave
Inver Grove Heights, MN 55076

Phone
651-554-6840

Regular Hours
Monday–Wednesday: Noon – 8:00 p.m.
Thursday–Saturday: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Sunday: Closed

Closed on holidays

Address
1490 South Frontage Rd.
Hastings, MN 55033

Phone
651-438-0200

Regular Hours
Monday–Thursday: 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Friday and Saturday: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Sunday: 1:00 – 5:00 p.m.

Closed on holidays

Address
14395 S. Robert Trail
Rosemount, MN 55068

Phone
651-480-1200

Regular Hours
Monday–Thursday: 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Friday and Saturday: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Sunday: 1:00 – 5:00 p.m.

Closed on holidays.

Address
1340 Wescott Road
Eagan MN 55123-1029

Phone
651-450-2900

Regular Hours
Monday–Thursday: 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Friday and Saturday: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Sunday: 1:00 – 5:00 p.m.

Closed on holidays

Have an extra excuse to enjoy the outdoors – become a Dakota County Parks Trail Ambassador! Our park ambassador teams provide a vital service to our trail programs by providing trained assistance with directions, FAQs, rule compliance and first aid care. Qualified candidates are enthusiastic and frequent users of our parks and that want to serve as friendly ambassadors to other park visitors.

Volunteer on your own time (no set schedule - you go out when you want), while personally enjoying the trails, it doesn’t get better than that. A variety of recreation can be performed within our ambassador program. See below for open team recruitment (you can join more than one team depending on what activity you do while in the parks). 

Help maintain your dog's mental and physicals health by getting them outside to roam. Dakota Woods Dog Park is a 16-acre, fenced-in, wooded park that is a great place to let your dog run and exercise on and off-leash. The park is centrally located in Dakota County, just east of Rosemount and north of Farmington.  

This charming 57-acre park provides a quiet get-a-way in the midst of West St. Paul. The park features a large picnic and playground area that overlooks Thompson Lake and miles of wooded trails that link Thompson County Park to Kaposia Park and to the Mississippi River Regional Trail. Thompson County Park is also the home of the Dakota Lodge — a four-season event center that is perfect for weddings, reunions, meetings, banquets, retreats, parties and much more.

What better way to enjoy a summer afternoon in Minnesota than fishing? No boat? No worries. Take A Kid Fishing gives folks a chance to enjoy a popular Minnesota pastime comfortably from our fishing dock on beautiful Thompson Lake at Thompson County Park in West St. Paul. Learn about fishing and related topics through hands-on exhibits and vendors. There will also be door prizes, giveaways, fun games, art activities and food trucks to help fill up your afternoon with fun. 

A variety of volunteer opportunities are available to support this community event. Whether sharing your fishing knowledge and experience with our younger fishing enthusiasts or just with general event support, there is something for everyone. To ensure a high-quality experience, pre-registration is required to volunteer. Help us make this event a success and get hooked on volunteering! 

Whitetail Woods Regional Park is located in Empire Township in the center of Dakota County, one mile north of the Vermillion River. Whitetail Woods provides year round fun from sledding down hill in the winter to enjoying a walk through the flowering prairie during the spring to taking in the relaxing sounds of an outdoor concert during the summer. Looking to get away for a weekend? Unique cabins for rent offer year-round comfy lodging for you and your family to explore the outdoors.

The American Red Cross and Dakota County partner to offer onsite blood donations at our main building locations throughout the county.