The backlash to the proposed “Mississippi River Landing Use Area and Access in Spring Lake Park Reserve,” a $4.6 million project which would add a pavilion, canoe and kayak launch and outdoor educational space, was in part, due to the name.
The area has long been known as “Bud’s Landing,” named for Bud Joseph, a duck hunter who lived nearby and hunted on the land with his family for decades.
The Sept. 30 open house about the designs of the project sought to end waterfowl hunting at the sight and conspicuously lacked any reference to Bud Joseph or “Bud’s Landing.”
Both of those decisions changed last week at the Dakota County General Government and Policy Committee of the Whole where commissioners gave the nod to continue to allow limited waterfowl hunting in the area as well as to formally change the name to Bud’s Landing.
“I think we should honor that tradition,” said Mary Liz Hoberg, Dakota County Commissioner of District 6, about the shift from the more generic name “Mississippi River Access,” which was still the proposed name at the beginning of the meeting.
While no hunting permits are expected to be issued this year due to construction on the site, starting in 2027, three waterfowl hunting permits will be allowed per day, according to Dakota County Director Physical Development Georg T. Fischer.
While this number is subject change, it was based on historical hunting data for the site, which Fischer estimated to average 31 permits across the September to December hunting season. Those permits are for parties or boats and represent at least one hunter but often more. The highest daily total for hunting permits at the site was seven.
The cap of three permits per day was limited in part due to the parking space at Bud’s Landing. During hunting season, the county would control road access along Fischer Avenue so as to keep other hunters from taking up parking or otherwise stopping access along the road.
Part of the reason hunting can continue to be available at the site is because the waterfowl hunting season doesn’t overlap with when kayakers and canoers would be on the water: “late September, early November, December, canoers and kayakers are off the water,” said Fischer.
“The process shows staff are trying to think outside the box for individuals,” said Dakota County Commissioner Mike Slavik of District 1.

The project
The nearly $5 million project will rest on the banks of Spring Lake, accessible via Fischer Avenue, as well as a new paved path that branches from the Mississippi River Greenway and switchbacks down to the shore.
The site is expected to include a carry-in watercraft boat launch and accessible floating pier, self-service canoe and kayak rentals, portable restrooms, educational signage, and other amenities like fishing access nodes, a pavilion with storage and an outdoor classroom. The project is also expected to include vegetation restoration in the area.
A key constraint of the design was simply the lack of parking and difficulty in accessing the area.
Fischer cited parking as the main reason the site wouldn’t feature a motorized boat launch: “mostly because of parking, that’s a huge issue.”
“We still have the risk of making people unhappy, but I think we also are showing that we’re being more than accommodating in this process here,” said Slavik.