A Look at Lakeville's 2026-2030 Capital Improvement Plan

Major Investments Planned to Support Community Growth and Quality of Life

The City of Lakeville has unveiled an ambitious five-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) that charts a course for strategic growth and infrastructure investment through 2030. With approximately $324 million in planned projects, the city is positioning itself to meet the needs of its growing population while maintaining the high quality of life residents have come to expect.

Road Reconstruction & Maintenance
Lakeville will invest $29.5 million over five years in street reconstruction and collector road rehabilitation. The 2026 focus includes Judicial Road improvements from 205th to 185th Street, developed in partnership with Credit River Township.

Major Corridor Improvements
Several transformative transportation projects are on the horizon:

Freight Rail Car Storage Facility
With state and federal funding secured, Lakeville will construct a 225-car storage facility in the southeast corner of town by 2026, eliminating the need for storage along County Road 50.

East Community Park Phase 2 (2026)
Major improvements along East Lake will include additional trails and trailheads in coordination with Dakota County's North Creek Greenway, plus enhanced shoreline fishing and boating access.

Lake Marion Greenway & Ritter Farm Park Trailhead (2026)
The west side of Lakeville will see significant trail improvements and a new trailhead, including pedestrian safety enhancements at Kenrich Avenue.

Four New Park Developments
As Lakeville grows, four significant parks are planned: Voyager Park, Grand Prairie Park (with new Jeff Belzer Chevrolet grandstand), Ro Meadows, and an as-yet-unnamed park to serve new residential areas.

Fire Station 5 (2026)
Construction begins on a new fire station at Cedar Avenue and Dodd Boulevard to support the city's transition to a full-time/hybrid fire department model. Renovations to Fire Stations 1 and 3 will follow in 2027-2028.

First Responder Center
The new First Center, currently under construction, is scheduled for completion in 2026 and will include improvements to 214th Street.

Central Maintenance & Water Treatment Expansions (2027)
Both facilities will be expanded to accommodate growing demand and service needs.

Water System Enhancements
Following the recent addition of a well at 190th Street, two additional wells (numbers 24 and 25) are programmed for 2028 to support anticipated growth.

Dakota Heights Water Tower
A major maintenance project in 2026 will repaint the water tower to extend its service life.

Environmental Stewardship
The city maintains approximately 270 acres of public natural areas—representing 8% of city-owned property—through ongoing prairie, shoreline, and rain garden management programs.

In encouraging news, the city's EAB survey shows significant progress, with infested properties dropping by half compared to the previous year, suggesting Lakeville has passed peak infestation levels.

The city maintains strong financial health, meeting its fund balance policy with 53.6% unassigned fund balance in 2024 (policy range: 40-50%). For 2026 projects, approximately $36.3 million in bonding is planned, with a sale anticipated in March or April.

The levy includes dedicated funding for key priorities: $2.1 million for pavement maintenance, $1.5 million for park and trail improvements, $400,000 for equipment purchases, $1 million for facilities maintenance, and $250,000 for technology.

As Lakeville continues to grow—with taxable market values reaching $12.5 billion in 2024—this Capital Improvement Plan represents a balanced approach to infrastructure investment, environmental stewardship, and quality-of-life enhancements that will serve residents for decades to come.