New details about Jacobson Plaza: Skating plan, food and beverage options being finalized

You’ll be able to rent skates, have a meal and grab a beverage when the new Jacobson Plaza opens next year.

As construction begins to wind down on the major new addition at Falls Park, the city’s Parks & Recreation Department is releasing details about how the ice ribbon and gathering hall on the property will be run.

“We really view this as a regional destination,” said Jackie Nelson, the city’s recreation manager, who presented a recent update to the City Council.

“Our mission is to create memorable experiences.”

The first of those could be limited ice skating already this winter, if construction remains on track and equipment comes in on time for the 14,000-square foot ice ribbon, which will comfortably accommodate 225 skaters.

Skate rental will be $3 per person, and ice time will be $5 for 45 minutes, which is the same as Sioux City and comparable to other communities studied.

“We feel we’re very comparable across the country,” Nelson said.

Online reservations will be available up to 14 days in advance. Securing a slot to skate by walking up to the ice ribbon could become an option, but to start and to control capacity, skating will be by reservation only, the parks department said.

Because the ice is refrigerated, it will allow for an expanded season. Last season, the city’s natural ice rinks saw only seven days for skating. Jacobson Plaza, theoretically, could offer it for at least four months, from about Thanksgiving to St. Patrick’s Day, Nelson said.

“This gives us multiple months versus days,” she said.

The rest of the year, the parks department also plans to program events at Jacobson Plaza, with two full-time staff dedicated to it.

Options presented include everything from bumper cars to art events, games, yoga and music.

“They’re going to continue to come up with new and creative ideas to use the space … to make it very lively for everyone to enjoy,” Nelson said.

Washington Pavilion Management Inc. is being proposed as the food and beverage operator for the gathering hall, which includes sit-down dining, a bar and space to host events.

The Washington Pavilion brings experience running its on-site restaurant, The WP, in addition to catering events of all sizes, said Darrin Smith, president and CEO.

At Jacobson Plaza, there will be a full-service food operation along with a full bar. While a menu hasn’t been finalized, it will offer options such as burgers, sandwiches and appetizers in addition to more grab-and-go items designed for snacking.

The venue will need to be distinguished from other food options in the area, Smith said.

“It will be family-friendly because of the park, and yet it’s surrounded by apartments and condos with empty-nesters and millennials, so we want to cater to them because we’re surrounded by them,” he said.

The space “is beautiful, and it’s got a lot of functionality,” he added. “We envision a warm environment.”

The goal is to serve food and beverages seven days a week, with a space that will include a full municipal liquor license.

The city originally issued a request for proposals for a food and beverage operator, and when no one responded, officials negotiated a five-year agreement with the Washington Pavilion.

“They do have a lot of experience in food and beverage, which makes us very eager to move forward with them and very excited to see what they could potentially bring,” Nelson said.

Jacobson Plaza itself will open in phases, which will drive when the food and beverage service will fully ramp up too.

The hope is for a limited opening to try out the ice ribbon early next year, according to the parks department.

 “We’re hoping for a soft opening before we have a full season that starts late next year that will include the holiday season,” the department said in a statement.

“We look at it as a bonus if we’re able to do a sneak peek before a full operational season. This opportunity is subject to the variability of construction schedules, the nice weather holding out for steady progress and other factors that can impact construction activity.”

The remainder of Jacobson Plaza, which includes a large fully accessible playground, splash pad and dog park, is expected to be operating by early summer.

The city also marked substantial completion of the adjacent phase of River Greenway development with a ribbon-cutting today.

It runs along 2 acres behind The Steel District development along the Big Sioux River and includes Lloyd Landing, a new riverfront park featuring unique shelters with a stained-glass look, lounge-style seating, a field turf area, a dog-relief station and stunning views of the upper falls.

A 1,000-foot trail connects the Greenway to Falls Park and the 9-acre Jacobson Plaza. The 100-year-old historic low-head dam also is being replaced “to ensure recreational opportunities like kayaking and fishing can continue for the next 100 years,” the city said in a statement.

This phase was an $11 million project, with the Lloyd family gifting $750,000 to enhance the new Lloyd Landing.