Get a look at the long-term plan for Sioux Falls' largest park

Megan Raposa -

Simplified: The city parks and recreation department is working on a master plan to determine what Family Park – the city's largest public park – will look like for the next 50 years.

Why it matters

  • Family Park, located near West 12th Street and Ellis Road, is the largest park in the city with more than 240 acres – including a 154-acre land donation from the Unzelman family in 2018.
  • The master planning process started in July and has seen more than 1,300 responses from the community via surveys and public meetings. Much of the feedback was that people want to see Family Park remain a natural environment.
  • The plan, which was shared with the public this week, takes that feedback into account with added walking trails, native prairie grasses, increased fishing access and a playground that blends in with the natural environment.
"It'll give you the state park feel in the middle of Sioux Falls," Park Development Specialist Carter Roberts said.

Show me what it might look like

Here are some of the images shared with the public this week to illustrate what it all might look like:

What happens next?

The draft master plan will once again be updated based on feedback from the public, and the goal is to have a plan to present to the Sioux Falls City Council early next year.

Once approved, it'll be used as a planning document to add features in phases as money becomes available.