East-side ‘hidden gem’ arboretum plans new additions

It likely won’t be that many more years until the 155 acres of gardens and grassland that comprise the Mary Jo Wegner Arboretum become a “Central Park” of sorts for the growing east side.

For now, though, the park remains somewhat of a “hidden gem” as it marks a milestone year — its first decade of development, said Mike Cooper, who has served as its interim executive director for the past year.

“The typical reaction for people that come out for the first time is that they’ve driven by and never stopped and now they realize it’s such a beautiful place.”

As east-side development inches closer, the arboretum, which is at 1900 S. Perry Place on the north side of South Dakota Highway 42, is entering a new stage of expansion.

“A master plan was approved last year and identified a number of priorities for capital improvements,” said Cooper, who came to the arboretum after he retired from city government, where his career included leading both the parks and planning departments.

Dedicated on Arbor Day in  2006, the arboretum is named for nature lover Mary Jo Wegner, a civic leader and community volunteer. Ten years ago, a ribbon-cutting was held for the first phase of development.

Today, it’s comprised of prairie meadows, woodlands and formal gardens, including more than 500 trees representing nearly 100 varieties of deciduous, evergreen and ornamental trees, along with more than 135 varieties of shrubs, ornamental grasses and perennials. There’s no charge for admission, as it’s supported by the Arboretum Society.

Earlier this year, a new tulip garden added more than 1,600 bulbs from Holland of different varieties, donated by Mary Tidwell in memory of her mother, Mary Stahmann.

In the next year, “we’re working on a new hydrangea garden and a new iris garden,” Cooper said. “Those would be done primarily through donations.”

Next improvements

The arboretum master plan detailed several priorities. The first involves the Mabel and Judy Jasper Educational Center, which opened in 2013.

It features a re-created early 20th century classroom, as well as meeting and event space that can be rented.

A fundraising campaign is in the final stages of allowing the lower level of the building to be built out to include a demonstration kitchen. The hope is to begin construction soon, Cooper said.

“It will make it a lot more attractive for businesses or other organizations that might want to come use the facility,” he said. “Last year, because of COVID, we closed our education center to the public and had fewer events like weddings and graduations. But this year, that has already turned around. We’ve booked about 40 special events already for this year, inside and outside. So we’re seeing more visitors.”

Events are booking out as far as next fall, he said. The hope is to have the lower level done by early next year, which will add amenities such as an audiovisual system for presentations and a kitchen that can be used for garden-to-table programs, including a curriculum being developed for school visits thanks to a Wellmark Foundation grant.

“We’re raising money to do the lower level right now, and we’re doing well in terms of funding and in-kind support from businesses,” Cooper said.

Another upcoming improvement is outdoors. The arboretum sits on the site of the former East Sioux Falls, a town built around the quarry industry beginning in the 1890s that lasted about 20 years. Thanks to a grant from the Mary Chilton DAR Foundation, visitors will be able to follow trail markers and a guide to learn more about the area’s history.

“We’re trying to get that done this year as well, and it will be set up to do year-round,” Cooper said.

In 2023, the city of Sioux Falls is planning to fund an East Sioux Falls history plaza, which is still awaiting design but will replicate an old railroad station, he said.

“We want something interactive because we have a lot of kids who come, so we want kids and adults to learn and engage.”

An education coordinator also is working with the Sioux Falls School District on ways to involve more schools, including transportation for groups that might not usually visit, Cooper said.

“We want to make the arboretum more inclusive to all parts of our population,” he said.

Longer term, there’s a vision to add a new horticulture and education building to the property, which would be a larger investment and require greater fundraising.

“I think next year we’ll be working on developing a better strategy to look at how that may get implemented,” Cooper said.

The city, which maintains the property, and the state also are working on improvements to Highway 42 that involve a potential tunnel connection between the arboretum and Arrowhead Park, along with expansion of the bike trail, he said.

“The access by car and pedestrian and bicycle will be improved in the next three to five years.”

It all points toward the property becoming a hidden gem no more.

In the meantime, there’s still a lot of picturesque, natural and open space. Themed gardens include a teaching garden, prairie garden and knot garden and wedding lawn.

A Mayor’s Grove honors Sioux Falls leaders who supported developing the site. One bur oak tree is more than 200 years old.

Wildlife abounds, from the water to the sky, where bald eagles have been spotted. You can walk trails, launch a canoe or even volunteer here. And once you make your first visit, you’ll likely return, Cooper said.

“People that come for special events for the first time say now that they’ve discovered it, they really want to come back,” he said.

To learn more, click here.

Next events

Want to check out the arboretum this week? It will host a yoga hour from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. Other yoga events are scheduled throughout the month, along with bird watching and plein air painting. Click here for details.