With strong early donations, new projects coming to state parks this season

Improvements are coming this year to state parks across South Dakota, thanks to solid early response from donors to a fundraising campaign.

The South Dakota Parks & Wildlife Foundation is aiming to fund 30 projects in 19 state parks through its latest capital campaign — and many of them already are being checked off the list.

“We’re just thrilled,” executive director Kristina Coby said. “I was a little surprised they were able to slate some of these projects for yet this season.”

In the Sioux Falls area, a new overlook deck is coming to Good Earth State Park, fully funded by an individual donor who covered the $20,000 cost after learning about the fundraising campaign. It will offer an inspiring vantage point to experience the history, culture and beauty of the area, Coby said.

It’s expected to open in July.

A new overlook deck also is coming to Newton Hills State Park, providing visitors with an accessible perch to enjoy the park’s scenery. It’s expected to be done in August.

To the north, planning is underway to finalize project details and timelines for a future picnic shelter at Pickerel Lake Recreation Area, with a goal of being done this fall.

A new fish cleaning station will be coming to Hartford Beach State Park this summer. The $200,000 project is being funded with support from a lead gift from Valley Queen Cheese in Milbank.

It will provide visitors with a convenient and efficient facility, especially during the winter months when Big Stone Lake becomes an ice fishing hot spot.

To the southwest of Sioux Falls, funding is being set aside to acquire land at Springfield Recreation Area to preserve and expand the current campground and for conservation efforts.

Out west, a new amphitheater is coming to Custer State Park — fully funded by The Ramkota Companies, operator of the park’s resort.

It’s being built near the Visitor Center for guest speakers, educational programs and community events. Opening this summer, the venue will offer ample parking, enhanced accessibility and accommodation for larger audiences.

New interpretive signage is being added to the Mickelson Trail in the Black Hills in July, replacing 20 existing signs with updated stories, images and information that aligns with the new trailhead maps.

The campaign also helped purchase a chair that will improve accessibility at the new Pete Lien & Sons Shooting Sports Complex north of Rapid City.

“It takes people with mobility challenges and puts them in a chair that has tracks on it and can traverse rough terrain,” Coby said.

While the overall campaign aims to raise about $10 million to fund all 30 projects, it’s unique in that some can be funded as donors emerge.

“We’ve never been able to do that before,” Coby said, noting that typically the foundation raises money for one large single project.

“It is fairly early … but the approach has been to build awareness around the campaign, and if if you just look at the data, it’s phenomenal,” she continued. “In our database, we’ve seen a 400 percent increase in reactivated donors, and we have lowered our attrition rate.”

The majority of the projects are on the east side of the state, which tracks with the proportion of work being done this year, she added.

“But there’s definitely progress being made all over,” she said. “More people know who we are now and how they can engage with us right in their own backyard because those parks are across the state, so it’s been a treat.”

She hopes as people experience the parks this year, they also learn about the foundation helping support them.

“The best compliment anyone can give us is to get out and enjoy our parks.”

To view the full project list, visit here.