Sioux Falls Parks Board | April 15, 2026

The City of Sioux Falls Parks and Recreation Board held its regular business meeting on April 15, 2026, at Carnegie Town Hall. Key procurement-related discussions included a proposed electrical easement to serve a water pump station near the Great Bear entrance and archery range, which the board approved unanimously. The board also approved amendments to the Parks and Recreation bylaws to designate Carnegie Town Hall as the primary meeting location and to formalize public input procedures. Additionally, the board recommended approval for the placement of a historic marker commemorating Nelly Wilhight, South Dakota's first woman pilot, in the Oxbow Greenway. The director reported on upcoming budget preparations, including a planned supplemental appropriation request of $130,000 to support design work for Willow Ridge Park, with future capital improvement projects aimed at reinvesting in neighborhood parks. Public comments addressed concerns about swimming program accessibility for low-income families and questioned the policy of closing indoor pools during thunderstorms. The meeting concluded with recognition of the director's long service and leadership in the parks system.