East-side arboretum wraps up history plaza, other improvements

There are new reasons to pay a visit to the Mary Jo Wegner Arboretum before winter arrives.

The 155-acre, east-side arboretum is finishing up work on its East Sioux Falls History Plaza, an open-air structure replicating the original 1888 Illinois Central Railroad Depot that was located on the property.

“The structure is completed, and right now we’re finishing up some of the exterior elements,” arboretum executive director Mike Cooper said.

“There are going to be replicas of old shipping crates, some railroad signage, and we’re trying to get an old railroad cart to put on the tracks. We’re hoping to get as much done this year as possible to wrap it all up.”

Kids will be able to interact and climb on some of the play elements, he said.

The $340,000 project was funded primarily by the city of Sioux Falls and supporting grants from Knife River Co. and the Mary Chilton DAR Foundation. Volunteers helped with the finishing touches.

“We had a number of volunteers with the Minnehaha Master Gardeners, and we planted almost 200 perennials around the project area,” Cooper said.

East Sioux Falls was a mining town that existed in the late 1880s as part of the quarry operation in the area.

The arboretum is at 1900 S. Perry Place on the north side of Highway 42 and has been working through multiple updates identified in its 2020 master plan.

Other improvements this year include a wedding pergola that’s wrapping up construction.

“That’s being constructed within the formal garden area where we have a lot of outdoor rental events,” Cooper said. “Quartzite stone columns have been completed, and we’re working on completing the timber structure. There’s going to be additional landscaping done in the spring with around another 200 perennials we’ll put up there.”

The project was a donation from Dick and Kathy Sweetman and will be available to rent beginning in the spring.

“We’ve already had people come out and look at it under construction, and I think it will make our outdoor event area even more attractive,” Cooper said.

Improvements to the patio garden are adding to the arboretum’s outdoor venue space too.

“That’s just getting started,” Cooper said. “They’re working on a water feature, they put in footings for new steps and a shade pergola structure that’s going to include some raised planting beds, and some work on the deck.”

The project is scheduled to be done around the end of the year, with more perennials and annuals to be added in the spring.

Heading into 2024, the arboretum is planning for woodland garden and trail development, which is part of the master plan within the Perry Nature Area and would lead to another wedding lawn area that is rented frequently.

“This is in the older nature area of the arboretum,” Cooper said.

“We’re going to be adding more trail marker signs. We’re also looking at doing a teaching garden, which would replace the former history exhibit next to the Jasper Center, and it will focus on a variety of information about tree species and how trees grow.”

The city also will replace a historic bridge that was part of East Sioux Falls.

“It’s limited to pedestrians and small maintenance vehicles, but it’s in need of repair,” Cooper said. “So they’re going to be looking at replacing it next year, trying to maintain some type of a historic design element.”

Another project to enhance hydrangeas and hostas is scheduled to be done next spring or summer. In the meantime, there’s still time to come visit, Cooper said.

“There’s still vegetation to look at, and with all the nice days, we still have quite a few people coming out and walking around and sightseeing,” he said.

“We had a really good year in terms of rental events. We had over 50 events, plus weekday groups that used the facility, and we started bringing back summer camps and field trips this year. We’re hoping to build on that going into next year.”