What could be in store for Sioux Falls pools? We’ll show you

Five Sioux Falls swimming pools could see renovations or replacements – including a few major changes.

The city this week showed some big-picture concept plans for the pools as part of its larger effort “to figure out what the future vision for aquatics is,” said Don Kearney, director of parks and recreation. “What do we need to provide for our community going forward?

Nearly 1,000 people completed surveys talking about their preferences for the neighborhood pools, plus gave input at an earlier round of public meetings.

“The major themes were overcrowding at current facilities, indoor recreation was desired over outdoor water, although outdoor pools were still pretty high up there,” Kearney said. “They want both recreation and fitness water. Shade was a big thing at all facilities, whether existing or new. Swimming lessons were the most desired program, and there was a desire for another pool on the south side of town.”

The city is open to looking at options for land that would serve the south side, but nothing has been identified yet, he said.

For the existing pools, the city provided concept plans showing what kinds of improvements could fit on each site, reflecting what the input supported.

Here’s a look:

Frank Olson Park

Of those who gave input about Frank Olson, nearly 60 people favored indoor recreation and about 40 opted for outdoor. The city brought forward two plans for consideration based on that feedback.

The first would add a 60,000-square-foot indoor rec center to the park – about the same size as the Midco Aquatic Center – plus a seven-field baseball and softball complex north of 18th Street.

“Really, the emphasis was on lap swimming was important in the area,” Kearney said. Feedback was a “combination of fitness, shade, rec water and lessons.”

The indoor concept includes fitness and recreation water as well as a walking/running track, multisport courts, playground and library storefront.

“And we incorporated multipurpose rooms for fitness or cooking classes or whatever use,” Kearney said, adding that respondents “really like the idea of multipurpose and year-round opportunities.”

There also would be better pedestrian connectivity across 18th Street and improved parking with this plan, he said.

On the fields side, “we have nine scattered ballfields here, so we would create a cloverleaf of fields for a total of seven to the new standard of what we build now, add parking and a restroom shelter, and then on the other side we put the indoor rec center as an option with a back service area behind the rec center.”

There, “we thought about how cool it would be to have a destination playground and sport courts – pickleball or whatever it may be,” Kearney said.

The city also showed an option for an outdoor aquatic center that still would allow for the new fields and additional park amenities. It potentially could include lap swimming or features similar to other city pools.

Kuehn Park

The concept options for Kuehn are similar to Frank Olson.

“At Kuehn Park, we essentially heard the same thing – more support for indoor recreation than outdoor water, shade and tables and swim lessons,” Kearney said.

The plan would add another entrance off Valley View Road because currently the only way to get in is off 41st Street.

It shows the same size indoor rec center, with the same amenities, as well as reconstructed baseball and softball fields.

But, Kearney said, the city likely will add only one indoor aquatic option somewhere in town because “definitely budget is going to be a challenge. To do two indoor facilities would be tough without major donors.”

Here’s a look at the site with a replacement outdoor pool:

Terrace Park

This site plan incorporates more shade, with umbrella tables and permanent sail structures.

Those who gave input “wanted to get rid of the sand play area and see that converted to a gathering space for parties and other things, and they didn’t like sand volleyball inside the pool area,” Kearney said.

“So we’re showing the sand play area converted to a gathering space with shade structures throughout the complex and a small shed so we have more room for staff that report to work there.”

Laurel Oak Park

This pool would receive a concession stand under the improvement plan, plus more tables, locker room enhancements and shade trees.

“We lost a bunch of trees, so the desire for shade is real,” Kearney said, adding that this neighborhood input “is where we heard a desire for a pool on the south side.”

McKennan Park wading pool

Those who use this park support keeping the concept of a wading pool here with enhanced amenities that preserve the park’s history, Kearney said.

There was a previous plan put together with a grant by the neighborhood association that formed the basis for these proposed improvements, which “adds a zero-depth wading pool, shade and tables, a warming house restroom and storage,” he said.

Bonus: That area of the park also would include a refrigerated ice rink.

What’s next

The reality is that not all these projects will be able to be funded right away, Kearney said.

“It’s a volatile bidding market, and there are supply chain challenges, so we can only do what we can afford,” he said.

The city plans to take its feedback from this week’s meetings to the City Council and talk about next steps based on funding already approved for design and a future bond to fund at least some of the work.

The plan is to refine cost estimates and bring back recommendations in December. Design would take place next year, with construction spread out from 2024 to 2026 to keep as many pools available as possible during swim season.