Westside Recreation Center marks first year with new indoor play space

The Sioux Falls Westside Recreation Center is marking its first anniversary with a new indoor playground.

It’s designed for kids 11 and younger and features a multilevel play structure that includes slides, a rock wall and a toddler area.

“We know indoor play is a priority for our community based on feedback we’ve heard in public meetings, and this area helps to close that gap,” said Jackie Nelson, recreation manager for the Sioux Falls Parks & Recreation Department.

The 1,600-square-foot room includes a game called Stomp, an interactive play attraction “that packs tons of actions into a small space,” she said.

“This play experience engages players of all ages against one another in a fun, friendly, challenging competition that’s as much fun to see as it is play.”

As families have discovered the area, “more and more people every single day” are playing there, she said.

Indoor play requires a day pass or membership, with options for monthly or annual access. Socks are required to use the playground and are available for purchase at the facility for $2.

The play structure has a capacity of 69 users at a time. Indoor play hours are slightly shorter than overall facility hours, operating from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

The addition of indoor play comes as the Westside Recreation Center reports significant growth in overall use since the city acquired it from Sanford Health.

In 2025, the facility at 8701 W. 32nd St. hosted more than 188,000 visitors and now has more than 4,400 passholders, surpassing initial expectations. Year to date, the center has recorded 76,463 visits, an increase of approximately 19 percent compared with the same period last year.

“We were hoping to be around 2,500 in the first year, maybe 3,000, and we’re close to 4,500 right now, so we are super-thrilled,” Nelson said.

She said the growth reflects broad appeal across age groups.

“It’s your young toddlers coming in with Mom all the way up to seniors taking different fitness classes or working out,” she said. “When it’s rainy or cold outside, they have a place to go, and that’s exciting.”

The center offers a range of amenities, including an indoor aquatic area with slides, a hot tub, sauna and steam room, as well as locker rooms. A fitness area includes cardio and weight equipment, an indoor walking track and group fitness studios.

The facility also features courts for basketball, volleyball, pickleball and racquetball, along with an outdoor court. Programming includes daily cycling classes, youth programs and Stay Active and Independent classes, along with open-recreation opportunities year-round.

Several additional improvement projects have been completed or are underway at the center, including new carpet and lighting, parking lot upgrades, resurfaced gym and group exercise courts and a new roof.

The indoor play area also is influencing how space is used within the facility. A kids zone gym adjacent to the playground could be used to incorporate future programming and currently supports activities such as birthday parties tied to the play space.

Looking ahead, the city plans to expand on the concept with a new recreation center at Frank Olson Park, where indoor play will play a more prominent role.

“With indoor play, Frank Olson will be a little different because we’ll be able to build the building to fit it,” Nelson said. “It will be more of a destination.”

Plans call for a larger, multilevel structure with greater visibility from throughout the building, including from an elevated walking track.

“You’ll be able to feel the energy coming off it,” she said. “It will add a lot of color and design elements to the front entry.”