From string lights to swings, what’s ahead for Phillips Avenue in 2022

String lights, bench swings and a performance plaza are part of the initial concept for two blocks of Phillips Avenue scheduled to be reconstructed in 2022.

The area from Eighth to 10th streets, including part of Ninth Street to the east, is scheduled to be entirely rebuilt, including utilities, which is bringing the chance to add more features designed to enhance the downtown landscape.

“We understand this is more than just reconstructing a street,” said Dave Locke, lead landscape architect and partner at Stockwell Engineers. “This is building on the success of Phillips Avenue.”

Stockwell was hired by the city to lead the visioning, planning, civil engineering and landscape architecture for the project, which is scheduled to start in May.

The firm has put together a series of images “to allow people to envision what it’s going to look like,” Locke said.

“We’re definitely open to more input. That’s a big part of our process is getting public input at the beginning as we move forward with the design.”

Design approach

In addition to new pavement, the design calls for changing parallel parking to angled parking, similar to the newer angled parking on North Phillips Avenue across from Falls Park West.

There also will be more planters for landscaping, specialty paving, trash receptacles, bike racks and corner monument signs for information about downtown.

The two-block Phillips Avenue stretch also will see spots for more sculptures and bench seating.

The area in front of The First National Bank in Sioux Falls contains “the last elements of the Phillips Avenue pedestrian mall, and the city has made a commitment to keep that space mostly pedestrian,” Locke said. “It’s going to be a destination unto itself.”

In that area, Stockwell is proposing decorative wall panels with a bench swing attached to them, “so it’s some unique opportunities from a seating standpoint,” Locke said.

The plan also brings a standout addition to Phillips Avenue: string lights, which will be stretched across the road north and south of Ninth Street.

“It’s something we’ve talked about on and off with downtown, and it never really gained traction, and with this design, we just went for it,” Locke said, adding similar lights in other downtowns have been “very, very popular.”

“We said here’s how we’re going to do it and where it’s going to be, and the city said, ‘Yeah, that makes sense, let’s do it.’ So we went through.”

The current plaza north of the Phillips Avenue Diner, which is used annually as a pop-up park, also has potential to enhance the streetscape, Stockwell recommended. While construction is not included in the road project budget, it could be worked in the parks department’s capital plan in upcoming years.

The design shows a concept for a performance area and seating that could tie into the existing water feature.

“The string lights would go across Phillips and turn and go across the plaza and tie those two main pedestrian spaces together,” Locke said.

The area on Ninth Street east of Phillips will be reconstructed until it becomes River Road.

“We’re going to eliminate one lane and put that road on a diet,” Locke said. “A lot of that space is going to be given to the north side of Ninth Street. We’re adding pedestrian space to the north side of Ninth Street that will have outdoor dining opportunities similar to what you see in front of Josiah’s on 12th.”

What’s next

There will be another public meeting in the spring once a contractor is on board, which will cover phasing and traffic control.

Construction is estimated to take about six months, approximately two months per block. Storefront access will be maintained for pedestrians even when parts of the road are closed.

To follow the project as updates are provided, sign up for emails or contact those working on the project, click here.