Thompson County Park

 
     
 
About
 
 

Ownership

 
 

 
     
 

Links

 
 

Dakota County Parks

 
     
 

Overview

 
 

 

 
     
 

History

 
 

 

 
     
 

Management

 
 

 

 
     
 

Comments

 
 

 

 
     
 
Location
 
 

Maps

 
 

Summer Map

Winter Map

 
         
 

Printable Map(s) with GPS coordinates

 
         
         
 

Size

 
 

57 acres

 
         
 

Parking

 
 

360 Butler Avenue East
West St. Paul, MN

N44 54.735, W93 4.227

 
         
 

Hours

 
 

Daily, 5 a.m.–10 p.m.

 
         
 

Fees

 
 

No fee

 
         
 

Driving Directions

  Area and County  
 

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          Dakota County  
          Metro Area  
     
 
Activities
 
 

Hiking Trails

 
 

More than 2 miles of hiking trails

The River to River Greenway Trail, a paved bike trail, passes through the park.

 
     
 

Hunting

 
 

No hunting

 
     
 
Ecology
 
 

Ecological Classification

  Ecological Classification  
  Ecological Province     Eastern Broadleaf Forest Province    
  Ecological Section     Minnesota & NE Iowa Morainal    
  Ecological Subsection     St. Paul-Baldwin Plains and Moraines    
  Land Type Association     Wescott Moraine    
             
 

Native Plant Communities*

   
 

Not mapped (10/11/2021)

   
  * Source: The Minnesota Biological Survey, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Division of Ecological Resources      
         
 

Natural Features

     
 

In 2005 the Dakota County staff mapped Thompson County Park according to the Minnesota Land Cover Classification System (MLCCS). They found 1.7 acres of shoreline, 1.5 acres of old field, 8.3 acres of developed land, 13.7 acres of degraded native forest, and 26.2 acres of degraded forest (overgrown old field). This does not include 3.1 acres in the western portion of the park that Dakota County restored to oak savanna.

According to the Draft Thompson County Park Master Plan published December 2019, “Today the undeveloped area of the park is an island of low-quality vegetation within a matrix of urban development.”

 

 

 

 

 

           
 
Visitor Photos
 
           
 

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MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
 
 

Thompson Lake

 
    Thompson County Park   Thompson County Park  
           
 

Trail

 
    Thompson County Park      

 

Camera

     
 
Slideshows
 
 
     
     

 

slideshow

       
 
Visitor Videos
 
       
 

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Other Videos
 
  Thompson Park, West St Paul, MN...A Walker's Love Affair
Mari Perron
 
   
 
About

May 24, 2011

After walking my neighborhood park for many years and photographing it for about two years, I began to imagine...

 
  Dakota Lodge Virtual Tour
Dakota County Videos
 
   
 
About

Oct 27, 2009

Make your next event a memorable experience for you and your guests at the Dakota Lodge in Thompson County Park.

Just minutes from downtown St. Paul and Minneapolis Dakota Lodge is a beautiful, natural setting for weddings, meetings, banquets, retreats or other special events.

The Dakota Lodge was the first Dakota County building to incorporate sustainable building features. Dakota County and the City of West St. Paul partnered to provide this multiple use center.

Website
http://www.co.dakota.mn.us

 

 

Camcorder

           
 
Visitor Sightings
 
           
 

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MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings
 
 

Visits

5/22/2017                
 
 

Amphibians

 
  boreal chorus frog (Pseudacris maculata)   boreal chorus frog  
 

Bacteria, Viruses, and Other Pathogens

 
         
 

Birds

 
 

One bird species with conservation status in Minnesota have been seen here:

Special Concern

American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)

 
 

eBird Field Checklist

 
 

American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)

American Robin (Turdus migratorius)

Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)

Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas)

Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus)

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)

Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)

Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)

Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus)

Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)

Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)

 

Black-capped Chickadee

Mallard

Northern Cardinal

Wood Duck

 
 

Fungi and Lichens

 
 

Black Knot (Apiosporina morbosa)

Crown Rust (Puccinia coronata)

Hexagonal-pored Polypore (Neofavolus alveolaris)

  Hexagonal-pored Polypore  
 

Insects and Arachnids

 
 

convergent lady beetle (Hippodamia convergens)

goldenrod bunch gall midge (Rhopalomyia solidaginis)

goldenrod gall fly (Eurosta solidaginis)

maple bladdergall mite (Vasates quadripedes)

  goldenrod bunch gall midge  
 

Mammals

 
  American red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus)   American red squirrel  
 

Plants

 
 

One plant species with conservation status in Minnesota is found here:

Endangered

wild quinine (Parthenium integrifolium)

 
 

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas and Minnesota Biological Survey Vegetation Releves Plant List

 
 

 

American basswood (Tilia americana var. americana)

American cow parsnip (Heracleum maximum)

American elm (Ulmus americana)

American highbush cranberry (Viburnum opulus var. americanum)

American hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana var. virginiana)

American stinging nettle (Urtica gracilis ssp. gracilis)

Amur maple (Acer ginnala)

annual fleabane (Erigeron annuus)

Bell’s honeysuckle (Lonicera × bella)

bigleaf lupine (Lupinus polyphyllus ssp. polyphyllus)

black cherry (Prunus serotina var. serotina)

black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia)

black raspberry (Rubus occidentalis)

black walnut (Juglans nigra)

black-seeded plantain (Plantago rugelii var. rugelii)

bland sweet cicely (Osmorhiza claytonii)

boxelder (Acer negundo var. negundo)

bracted spiderwort (Tradescantia bracteata)

bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa var. macrocarpa)

chokecherry (Prunus virginiana var. virginiana)

cleavers (Galium aparine)

common buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica)

common burdock (Arctium minus)

common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale ssp. officinale)

common duckweed (Lemna minor)

common false Solomon’s seal (Maianthemum racemosum var. racemosum)

crown vetch (Securigera varia)

cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum var. perfoliatum)

curly dock (Rumex crispus)

Dutchman’s breeches (Dicentra cucullaria)

dwarf raspberry (Rubus pubescens)

eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana)

eastern white pine (Pinus strobus)

fragrant bedstraw (Galium triflorum)

garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata)

giant goldenrod (Solidago gigantea)

golden alexanders (Zizia aurea)

gray birch (Betula populifolia)

gray dogwood (Cornus racemosa)

great water dock (Rumex britannica)

greater duckweed (Spirodela polyrrhiza)

green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica)

ground ivy (Glechoma hederacea)

hazel (Corylus spp.)

heart-leaved birch (Betula cordifolia)

hedge bindweed (Calystegia sepium)

honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos)

jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum)

kidney-leaved buttercup (Ranunculus abortivus)

late goldenrod (Solidago altissima)

leafy spurge (Euphorbia virgata)

lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis)

long-beaked sedge (Carex sprengelii)

Missouri gooseberry (Ribes missouriense)

Morrow’s honeysuckle (Lonicera morrowii)

narrow-leaved cattail (Typha angustifolia)

northern pin oak (Quercus ellipsoidalis)

northern red oak (Quercus rubra)

orange daylily (Hemerocallis fulva)

pagoda dogwood (Cornus alternifolia)

peachleaf willow (Salix amygdaloides)

plains cottonwood (Populus deltoides ssp. molinifera)

prairie rose (Rosa arkansana)

purple meadow-rue (Thalictrum dasycarpum)

quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides)

red clover (Trifolium pratense)

red elderberry (Sambucus racemosa var. racemosa)

reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea)

river birch (Betula nigra)

rose twisted-stalk (Streptopus lanceolatus var. longipipes)

round-leaved dogwood (Cornus rugosa)

sandbar willow (Salix interior)

Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris)

Siberian elm (Ulmus pumila)

silver maple (Acer saccharinum)

slender willow (Salix petiolaris)

smooth brome (Bromus inermis)

smooth Solomon’s seal (Polygonatum biflorum var. commutatum)

smooth sumac (Rhus glabra)

sugar maple (Acer saccharum ssp. saccharum)

Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia)

Virginia stickseed (Hackelia virginiana)

Virginia waterleaf (Hydrophyllum virginianum var. virginianum)

white clover (Trifolium repens ssp. repens)

white mulberry (Morus alba)

white oak (Quercus alba)

white wild indigo (Baptisia alba var. macrophylla)

wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)

wild geranium (Geranium maculatum)

wild grape (Vitis riparia)

winter cress (Barbarea vulgaris)

woodbine (Parthenocissus vitacea)

 

Acer ginnala (Amur maple)

Acer negundo var. negundo (boxelder)

Acer saccharinum (silver maple)

Acer saccharum ssp. saccharum (sugar maple)

Alliaria petiolata (garlic mustard)

Arctium minus (common burdock)

Arisaema triphyllum (Jack-in-the-pulpit)

Baptisia alba var. macrophylla (white wild indigo)

Barbarea vulgaris (winter cress)

Betula cordifolia (heart-leaved birch)

Betula nigra (river birch)

Betula populifolia (gray birch)

Bromus inermis (smooth brome)

Calystegia sepium (hedge bindweed)

Carex sprengelii (long-beaked sedge)

Convallaria majalis (lily of the valley)

Cornus alternifolia (pagoda dogwood)

Cornus racemosa (gray dogwood)

Cornus rugosa (round-leaved dogwood)

Corylus spp. (hazel)

Dicentra cucullaria (Dutchman’s breeches)

Erigeron annuus (annual fleabane)

Euphorbia virgata (leafy spurge)

Fraxinus pennsylvanica (green ash)

Galium aparine (cleavers)

Galium triflorum (fragrant bedstraw)

Geranium maculatum (wild geranium)

Glechoma hederacea (ground ivy)

Gleditsia triacanthos (honey locust)

Hackelia virginiana (Virginia stickseed)

Hemerocallis fulva (orange daylily)

Heracleum maximum (American cow parsnip)

Hydrophyllum virginianum var. virginianum (Virginia waterleaf)

Juglans nigra (black walnut)

Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana (eastern redcedar)

Lemna minor (common duckweed)

Lonicera × bella (Bell’s honeysuckle)

Lonicera morrowii (Morrow’s honeysuckle)

Lupinus polyphyllus ssp. polyphyllus (bigleaf lupine)

Maianthemum racemosum var. racemosum (common false Solomon’s seal)

Monarda fistulosa (wild bergamot)

Morus alba (white mulberry)

Osmorhiza claytonii (bland sweet cicely)

Ostrya virginiana var. virginiana (American hophornbeam)

Parthenocissus quinquefolia (Virginia creeper)

Parthenocissus vitacea (woodbine)

Phalaris arundinacea (reed canary grass)

Pinus strobus (eastern white pine)

Pinus sylvestris (Scots pine)

Plantago rugelii var. rugelii (black-seeded plantain)

Polygonatum biflorum var. commutatum (smooth Solomon’s seal)

Populus deltoides ssp. molinifera (plains cottonwood)

Populus tremuloides (quaking aspen)

Prunus serotina var. serotina (black cherry)

Prunus virginiana var. virginiana (chokecherry)

Quercus alba (white oak)

Quercus ellipsoidalis (northern pin oak)

Quercus macrocarpa var. macrocarpa (bur oak)

Quercus rubra (northern red oak)

Ranunculus abortivus (kidney-leaved buttercup)

Rhamnus cathartica (common buckthorn)

Rhus glabra (smooth sumac)

Ribes missouriense (Missouri gooseberry)

Robinia pseudoacacia (black locust)

Rosa arkansana (prairie rose)

Rubus occidentalis (black raspberry)

Rubus pubescens (dwarf raspberry)

Rumex britannica (great water dock)

Rumex crispus (curly dock)

Salix amygdaloides (peachleaf willow)

Salix interior (sandbar willow)

Salix petiolaris (slender willow)

Sambucus racemosa var. racemosa (red elderberry)

Securigera varia (crown vetch)

Silphium perfoliatum var. perfoliatum (cup plant)

Solidago altissima (late goldenrod)

Solidago gigantea (giant goldenrod)

Spirodela polyrrhiza (greater duckweed)

Streptopus lanceolatus var. longipipes (rose twisted-stalk)

Taraxacum officinale ssp. officinale (common dandelion)

Thalictrum dasycarpum (purple meadow-rue)

Tilia americana var. americana (American basswood)

Tradescantia bracteata (bracted spiderwort)

Trifolium pratense (red clover)

Trifolium repens ssp. repens (white clover)

Typha angustifolia (narrow-leaved cattail)

Ulmus americana (American elm)

Ulmus pumila (Siberian elm)

Urtica gracilis ssp. gracilis (American stinging nettle)

Viburnum opulus var. americanum (American highbush cranberry)

Vitis riparia (wild grape)

Zizia aurea (golden alexanders)

 

American cow parsnip

American highbush cranberry

Bell’s honeysuckle

black cherry

black raspberry

bracted spiderwort

crown vetch

Dutchman’s breeches

golden alexanders

ground ivy

hedge bindweed

leafy spurge

Missouri gooseberry

Morrow’s honeysuckle

orange daylily

prairie rose

red clover

red elderberry

Scots pine

Virginia waterleaf

white clover

wild bergamot

wild geranium

wild grape

winter cress

 
 

Reptiles

 
  painted turtle (Chrysemys picta)   western painted turtle  

 

 

Binoculars

 

Created: 2/12/2020

Last Updated:

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