Parks Board Meeting | October 21, 2026

The City of Sioux Falls Parks and Recreation Board met on October 21, 2026. The board approved proposed 2027 golf rate changes and Great Bear’s seasonal rate changes. Golf management said increases were needed to address aging courses and capital needs, including a deteriorating Prairie Green maintenance shed and adjustments to the new clubhouse; season-pass revenue was reported at about $2.2 million. Great Bear will keep daily lift-ticket rates unchanged, raise season passes by $10 to cover RFID cards, and shorten and reduce the price of tubing sessions. The board also approved standard admission fees of $10 for adults and $5 for students for two upcoming Augustana swim meets at the Midco Aquatic Center. Great Bear’s audit was reported as clean, with approximately $130,000 in net income and $95,000 spent on equipment and improvements; staff corrected an outdated report in the meeting packet.

The board recommended approval of a $500,000 gift from Paul and Mary Ellen Connelly for improvements at Frank Olson Recreation Center, with 10-year naming rights for the indoor playground as Margie’s Tree House Playground; the agreement is to go to City Council for consideration, targeted for November. It also recommended accepting donated land adjacent to Great Bear for park and recreation use, with the city responsible for closing costs and installation of a boundary fence. The gift and land donation support future park improvements and expanded open space; no construction contract awards or bids were approved at this meeting.