There are two different repair and construction projects that have begun: the trail from Spring Street to the River Street crossing near the Middle School along Highway 55 and the trail in Vermillion Falls Park and C.P. Adams Park. The Highway 55 trail is expected to take three weeks to complete and the larger project in the parks is expected to take six weeks.

The trail along Highway 55 will be reconstructed from Spring Street along Roadside Park, the Hastings Family Aquatic Center and continue along Highway 55 across Pine Street to the backside of the Middle School at the intersection of River Street and Highway 55. During this estimated three-week window from Oct. 16 to Nov. 3, expect lane closures on Highway 55. Please use caution and slow down when in construction areas.

The Vermillion River Regional Greenway project is a bit more extensive, and it is being managed by Dakota County. The current phase of the project is to reconstruct or build new portions of the trail system on the east side of Hastings. The 10-foot-wide trail will run along County Road 47, through Vermillion Linear Park, Vermillion Falls Park, C.P. Adams Park down to the Mississippi River along Tyler Street. This project is part of the reason the non-native trees were removed in Vermillion Falls Park.

This phase focuses on the portion in Vermillion Falls Park and C.P. Adams Park where they will be replacing a good portion of the existing trails. Vermillion Falls Park will see a replacement of the main trail that runs with the river. There will still be limited access to the overlook of the falls. Both trails from 21st Street East to the main trail will be closed, which includes the trail to the footbridge. Access to the footbridge will also be limited.

The trail from Vermillion Falls Park into C.P Adams Park will be closed, including the main lower trail at 18th Street East. The trail that runs along 18th Street will remain open. See the accompanying graphics for the full trail closures. This portion of the project is expected to take approximately six weeks to complete.

A second portion of the project will happen April to August of 2024. That will include work in Vermillion Linear Park, on the SMEAD property and at the Tyler Street and 10th Street crossings.

For those unfamiliar with Vermillion Linear Park, this park is the land along County Road 47 between Vermillion Street behind Applebee’s to 31st Street West. Vermillion Falls Park is across Highway 61 down to the County Shop by the Veteran’s Home.