Jacobson Plaza more than doubles in size from original vision

The concept to bring an ice skating ribbon and accessible playground downtown is getting a lot bigger.

Planning for Jacobson Plaza was initiated last year at Falls Park West, near Levitt at the Falls, thanks to a $2 million gift from Sioux Falls business owners Garry and Dianne Jacobson.

That now has become a $5.5 million gift, which will be matched with city funding to create a bigger ice ribbon, a playground with more attractions, multiple buildings to support the park and more parking.

“We felt we needed to do more initially to create a really great experience,” said Don Kearney, the city’s director of parks and recreation. “We’re getting more done upfront than we originally anticipated, and the really nice thing is for every dollar the city puts in, the Jacobsons are putting in dollars as well.”

The family “is delighted to expand our support for and funding for this project,” Robin Houwman, the Jacobsons’ daughter, said in a statement. “We continue to hope that it will be an attraction that brings families to Sioux Falls and highlights all that downtown Sioux Falls has to offer. The expansion of the ice ribbon and additional features will complement the inclusive playground. The Jacobson family is excited to see this project completed.”

Here’s what’s new:

Larger ice ribbon with year-round use

After touring ice ribbons and researching others online, the city determined it should add 2,000 square feet to the ice ribbon’s design, bringing it to 14,000 square feet.

“We get one chance to do it right, and there’s no adding on to those existing systems,” Kearney said. “So we felt now is the time. Sioux Falls is growing, and we think it’s going to be hugely popular.”

The city also plans to find uses for the ribbon during months when it’s not filled with ice.

“At a minimum, other cities have seen rollerblading and skateboarding, but we anticipate maybe we can do miniature golf in the summer,” Kearney said. “We haven’t fully vetted all those ideas, but we do want to activate the space with other things to do in the summer.”

Playground extras and parking

The accessible playground is adding zip line-style gliders after the parks department learned about them from other places.

“Kids were all over them — probably one of the most popular features we saw at the inclusive playgrounds,” Kearney said, noting that while the playground is designed to be usable for those with disabilities, “it’s for everyone. It just accommodates everyone as well.”

But because kids might come there with unique transportation needs, the city wants to offer additional parking and a dedicated drop-off and pickup area, so the expanded scope for the project includes that.

Supporting structures, festive atmosphere

Jacobson Plaza also will include multiple buildings and additional gathering space.

The expanded scope includes a structure Kearney compares to the chalet at Great Bear Ski Valley, where “you can get some prepared food, opportunities for food and beverage,” and where the city likely would hire an operator, he said.

A separate building will be used for skate rental, and a mechanical building will house the ice resurfacer and other needed equipment to support the plaza.

There also will be an open-air shelter at the plaza that can be rented.

“We’re making sure it’s a festive atmosphere, with the lighting and sound and all the things that go with an ice ribbon to really make it a cool experience, outdoor fire pits and those types of things,” Kearney added. “We’re excited about it.”

What’s next

The city is working with the South Dakota Department of Agriculture & Natural Resources and other state offices to make sure the project addresses any environmental considerations at the site, Kearney said.

The plan is to finish design by the end of July, put the project out for bids and break ground this fall.

Ideally, Kearney said the ice ribbon will open with the start of Winter Wonderland in 2023, with the playground potentially opening a bit earlier that fall.

A future phase in the area also could involve a splash pad and dog park but be three to five years away, he said.