New upgrades could be ahead for city’s largest park

Editor’s note: This story has been updated since it originally was published.

A nature-based playground, improved areas for dogs, fishing and year-round recreation are among the upgrades being discussed for Family Park.

The 245-acre park in northwest Sioux Falls at 300 N. Ellis Road is the city’s largest, and city officials are working through a new master plan for it.

“Big vision, long range” is how park development specialist Carter Roberts describes it. “You can tell people are really passionate about what’s going to happen.”

A meeting to gain input earlier this year drew 100 people, and at least that many came for an update this week. An online survey about what people would like to see in the park garnered input from more than 1,200 residents, making it one of the largest the city has done.

One of the biggest draws for input was the park’s use as an off-leash area for dogs.

Downtown dog owner Matt Klumper said he takes his golden retriever to family park often.

“That’s a big reason for most people that use the area. A lot of the people that use the area are senior citizens and people who live in apartments,” he said. “Their dogs are everything. That’s one of the reasons people are so passionate about this.”

Here’s a look at the full preliminary concept presented this week that Roberts said reflects much of that resident feedback:

Generally, people want to see the natural environment of the park preserved and enhanced, Roberts said.

“Walking trails are popular, so there’s expanded opportunities for that to get up and around in the 245 acres of the park,” he said. “Improving fishing access and just restoring the whole site to nature, cleaning it up a little bit and providing a good opportunity for people to get out into nature.”

The plan calls for a park center that would bring additional parking to the area along with a shelter, drinking fountain and canoe or kayak access points.

It includes plans for a unique nature-based playground.

Here’s a look at some of the concepts being discussed for that, including a play structure with a pheasant theme.

Improvements to the existing dog park as well as a designated off-leash park are part of the plan, but Klumper said he and others who bring their dogs there don’t like what they initially see proposed.

The biggest issue is with a proposed road that would cut through the center of the park, as well as relocating off-leash space to an area that’s not as useful for it, he said.

“With the road in the center, even if it wasn’t for the dog owners, most responded they wanted to keep it a nature area and they basically urbanized it putting a road in the middle,” he said. “They’re bringing the dog area south of the bike path, but it’s just an open prairie. When you go to the off-leash area (now) everybody stays with their dog. You go on a nature walk with your dog. We use the paths basically to avoid each other.”

He submitted alternate design suggestions to the city.

“Our parks one of the best dog parks I’ve ever been to,” Klumper added. “There are some users who don’t want to see anything at all done to the park … but there’s a lot of us that are more realistic. We understand it’s a big park, and we don’t need 100 percent of the park.”

Additional programming could include a wetland boardwalk on the north end of the park.

There’s also space for additional single track trails, which could double as a way to offer a variety of winter recreation options.

Single track riders “are always excited about new opportunities, and that area is pretty cool, so giving them a spot to do their thing is important too,” Roberts said.

The south end of the park is envisioned with an observation hill, including additional seating and parking.

The city plans to take the feedback received on the concept and make adjustments, then bring it to the parks and recreation board later this winter or early spring. Once a master plan is finalized, improvements can be planned and budgeted.

“We’re excited to continue the process,” Roberts said.