Dakota County plans for service changes in 2027
Nov. 5, 2026
Dakota County is changing some park and library hours and services next year. The changes are being made due to planned 2027 budget reductions.
Service changes as part of next year’s budget also include a new location for passport services, which does not require additional tax dollars.
Here is a summary of changes:
Parks
Dakota County parks are among the most popular county amenities. Access to the parks and greenways will remain unchanged and free to visitors in 2027, but the county is reducing some services and events.
Changes started with reduced winter hours at the Lebanon Hills Visitor Center beginning Sunday, Nov. 1. New hours are from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday–Sunday, closing a half-hour earlier. The visitor center is also now closed on Mondays and county holidays.
Other park changes include:
- Reduction of winter Lebanon Hills Visitor Center equipment rental hours:
- Weekends, noon–4:30 p.m.
- Closed on county holidays
- Cancellation of the 2026 New Year’s Eve event at Lebanon Hills Regional Park.
- Cancellation of the Take a Kid Fishing and Summer Solstice events at Thompson County Park.
- Reduction of the Music in the Parks series at Whitetail Woods Regional Park to one event annually.
- Reduction in outdoor education for school field trips, summer camps and public programs.
Library
Like parks, library services are among the highest-rated county amenities by residents. Budget reductions were made to minimize the impact on library users.
Seven of the 10 locations will have fewer staffed hours, and the library will reduce some services.
Library location hours starting Jan. 2, 2027 will be:
Burnhaven, Galaxie, Wentworth and Wescott
- Monday–Wednesday, 9 a.m.–8 p.m.
- Thursday–Saturday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
- Sunday, 1–5 p.m.
While the Burnhaven Library is under renovation, the temporary Burnhaven location is open:
- Monday–Thursday, 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
- Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
- Closed on Sunday
Farmington, Heritage, Inver Glen, Kaposia, Pleasant Hill and Robert Trail
- Monday–Wednesday, noon–8 p.m.
- Thursday–Saturday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
- Closed on Sunday
The library’s Self-Service Hours will remain 6 a.m.–11 p.m. daily at all regular locations. Burnhaven Library’s temporary location does not have Self-Service Hours.
The library may reduce the amount of library events and participation in partner events in 2027. It will stop purchasing CDs, reduce DVD purchases and reduce the number of items customers can check out through Interlibrary Loan.
New passport service
Planning for the 2027 county budget includes improved access to passport applications.
Beginning Monday, Nov. 9, Dakota County will expand passport and passport photo services to Northern Service Center in West St. Paul. Those services are already available at the Administration Center in Hastings and Western Service Center in Apple Valley.
These new passport services at the Northern Service Center, which are supported with fees from the services, will be available at the first-floor service desk by appointment and walk-in.