Downtown riverfront, other long-awaited park projects could take big step forward with help from COVID funding

Ice skating downtown.

Riverfront development.

Lions at the Great Plains Zoo.

For many, they’ve been on wish lists for years, and these projects could be taking a big step toward reality.

Here’s the situation: The city of Sioux Falls received millions in federal funding last year to offset expenses related to COVID-19.

The city used that money for those qualifying expenses.

But because other revenue streams like sales tax and property tax still came in fairly well for the year, there’s a lot of funding left over.

So the City Council is considering how to spend it, starting with a $10.7 million package of projects scheduled for approval in April.

“We looked at needs and tried to focus on things that would improve equity and accessibility for people for quality-of-life amenities,” said Shawn Pritchett, city finance director.

The city also looked at projects where private donations were coming in to help and tried to focus on one-time expenses that didn’t create a lot of ongoing expense.

Here’s a look at what could be funded:

River Greenway design

We’re getting a new look at how the River Greenway could be designed alongside redevelopment at the Sioux Steel property near Falls Park West.

It’s planned to include a hotel and conference center, restaurants, living space, offices and retail.

The city is planning to spend $1 million to design the River Greenway, which will have similar improvements like those from Sixth to Eighth streets.

“We’re excited,” said Don Kearney, director of parks and recreation. “It should be a cool development.”

Preliminary plans show multiple overlooks, a play feature, multiuse lawn and riverwalk.

“We’ll finally be able to use Kiwanis Park as a developed park,” Kearney said. “It’s been a lost park for so long because it’s been so isolated. Most people don’t know it exists, so to showcase this part of the park is really exciting for us.”

The project also includes shoring up the degrading low-head dam in the area, which is needed to create a pool upriver, “so we have adequate water levels for kayaking and fishing and that kind of thing,” Kearney said.

Construction funding will come later, but the hope is the project could be built along with the private development – as soon as next year.

Jacobson Plaza at Falls Park West

There was a huge response when Garry and Dianne Jacobson announced a $2 million contribution to create a refrigerated skating loop and inclusive playground at Falls Park West.

The plan is to design the project this year and build it next year so it can be ready by the 2022 holiday season.

The city’s contribution would be $2 million.

$2 million donation could bring ice skating, new playground downtown

Great Plains Zoo African exhibit expansion

The Great Plains Zoo plans to bring back lions, improve the environment for its giraffes and prairie dogs, and make other improvements with this major exhibit expansion.

The plan is to design it this year and build it next year.

The city would contribute $1.4 million, with $6.6 million coming privately.

New at the zoo: Plans for more animals, other improvements

Hayward Park improvements

Remember how we told you about this exciting plan to improve a west-side neighborhood park? City funding could make it a reality, adding green space, an enclosed dog park, spray park and more at Hayward Park. Private donations are being raised to make a big improvement to playground equipment too.

The plan is to design the park this year and build it next year.

The city would contribute $2.45 million, with $200,000 coming privately.

Forgotten no more: Park improvements are coming to west-side neighborhood

Road expansion

Nearly 40 percent of the city’s proposed funding package is dedicated to expanding roads to meet growth and development. For a look at those, click below.

City offers look at where COVID-relief funds could help fund development-driven roads