City offers fresh look at future River Greenway plan

Here’s a peek at what’s next for the downtown River Greenway.

Confluence, which is working with the city of Sioux Falls, is moving forward with design for the segment, which will complement development along The Steel District project adjacent to Falls Park.

The project will develop a new public riverwalk along the west side of the Big Sioux River and the upper falls, where it doesn’t exist today, said Jon Jacobson, senior principal for Confluence.

The design calls for “a new multiuse public plaza space and shelter structure that features river overviews and will be on the same street-level elevation as The Steel District development,” Jacobson said.

“The space is intended for public gatherings/picnics, programmed recreation activities like yoga, lawn games, etc.”

There will be multiple points of access from The Steel District level to the west side of the River Greenway, including stairs and sloped walkways for multiple accessible routes.

“The image illustrates a ‘Grand Stairway,’ which will allow for direct pedestrian access into the heart of The Steel District that has decorative lighting and landscape features,” Jacobson said.

The goal is to finish design by fall. The Army Corps of Engineers is in the middle of its permitting process, so a final completion timeline will be set once that’s done.

The city already has funded the project using pandemic-related federal money.

“We’re thrilled to be advancing phase three of the downtown River Greenway master plan,” said Don Kearney, director of parks and recreation. “Working hand in hand with private development like The Steel District creates a beautiful final product that will serve generations to come.”

The project is one of many Mayor Paul TenHaken’s administration has brought forward for funding downtown.

“It’s incredible the opportunity we have right now,” TenHaken said. “Within a 500-yard radius, you have the Sixth Street bridge, Cherapa, Steel District and Jacobson Plaza all happening right there, and they all tie in together and are woven with similar elements. It will just feel like a whole new area of our town.”