Prepare to play: Look at new playgrounds coming to 4 Sioux Falls neighborhoods

New playgrounds will begin opening next month at four Sioux Falls neighborhood parks.

Equipment will start to be installed this week at Laurel Oak and Linwood parks, followed by McCart and Tomar parks in about two weeks.

The city is working with North Dakota-based Dakota Playground, which was chosen through a competitive proposal process. The company has been in business for more than 20 years and serves North Dakota, Minnesota, South Dakota, Montana and Wyoming.

“We give the general dimensions and rough budget, then allow the manufacturers to get creative,” park development specialist Tory Miedema said. “They submit unique designs for each location. The (proposals) are graded by a committee, and the best value is selected.”

Here’s a closer look at what’s coming to each neighborhood:

Laurel Oak

Located at 3301 E. 49th St., Laurel Oak will receive what’s called the Smart Play BeachComber, a sea adventure-themed playground that complements its family aquatic center.

Look for curvy slides, a Pod Climber, a cool color palette and flowing design.

Linwood Park

Located in northeast Sioux Falls at 4409 E. Walker Way, families from across the city soon will have a new reason to visit this neighborhood park.

Its new playground is the Smart Play Venti, which packs 20 activities into its compact size. Nets, slides, belts and climbers provide fun and challenges that promote physical development and strategic thinking, while also creating hangouts where kids can take a break and connect with others.

Features include a cargo net, inclined cable walk, belt bridge, panel maze, wood plank ladder, multiple slides, a fire pole, cabin seating area and belt hammock.

McCart Park

Whether you live on the west side or are stopping by a game at Earl McCart Fields or an event at the Denny Sanford Premier Center, McCart Park will have a new playground to check out.

Located at 2001 W. Madison Ave., the park is receiving the Smart Play Billows playground.

Features include an Alpine, flex climber, SwiggleKnots bridge and Mobius climber, and the playground is accented with a cloud-shaped shade and kite flying overhead.

Tomar Park

Along with its enhanced tennis complex and other improvements, Tomar Park will be receiving a new playground.

It’s located at 100 W. Twin Oaks Road and will receive the Smart Play Tree Tops, which is designed to give kids the sense of exploring a forest canopy branch by branch.

There are wiggly bridges, the O-Zone three-ring climber, different slides and many interconnected activities.

The playground also includes a single post swing with two belt seats, molded bucket seat and full bucket seat.

Making choices

How does the city decide which park will get a new playground? Time and inspection.

“We inspect our playgrounds on a regular basis and track the repairs. As they start getting in the 20- to 25-year-old range, pieces tend to wear out quicker, and the replacement parts are often unavailable due to manufacturers updating and producing new pieces,” Miedema said. “The playgrounds also no longer meet the updated standards for ADA, safety and play value as they age, and new technology is developed. So it definitely starts with condition and age but also factors in play value, ADA and safety standards, and usage.”

All the new playgrounds and surfacing are scheduled to be ready to go by mid-July.