Editor's note: An earlier version of the story misstated the number of survey responses. It has been updated.
Simplified: Sioux Falls will have three brand new pools and a couple more upgraded ones in the coming years. Here's a (very early) glimpse at what those new facilities could look like.
Why it matters:
- The city parks department has been working over the last several months to get community feedback on five pools that are up for replacement or renovation in the next four to five years.
- Now, the department has combined feedback from both public meetings and more than 1200 online surveys and comments into a potential design for what future pools could look like.
- Designs for both Frank Olson and Kuehn Park pools included both an indoor and outdoor option, and an indoor pool would also likely mean more indoor recreation like a running track, gymnasium space and multi-purpose rooms.
"We probably can't start indoor rec centers across the city, but we want to think grand vision and implement as best we can moving forward," said Mike Patton, a park development specialist with the city.
Which pools are getting replaced or renovated?
Pools to be replaced include:
- Frank Olson,
- Kuehn Park,
- and the McKennan Park wading pool.
Pools to be renovated include:
- Laurel Oaks,
- and Terrace Park.
What features might be included?
The design shared Tuesday is intended to be a "menu of experiences," that each neighborhood will be able to pick and choose from in the formal design process, Patton said.
Here's a look at how renovated pools may end up:
Terrace Park
Laurel Oaks
And here's a look at indoor/outdoor options for pools up for replacement:
Frank Olson
The indoor site plan includes a 60,000-square-foot indoor recreation center and the addition of a seven-field baseball/softball complex north of 18th Street.
The outdoor site plan also includes the additional baseball/softball fields, but instead with a new entirely outdoor aquatic center.
Kuehn Park
The indoor plan would add a 60,000-square-foot recreation center much like the one proposed at Frank Olson Park. That'd include an indoor playground, gym, track, multi-purpose rooms and potentially a library storefront.
An outdoor pool option for Kuehn Park would bring a new outdoor aquatic center and the removal of the existing pool. Either indoor or outdoor improvements would also come with more parking, improved walking trail and reconstructed baseball/softball fields.
McKennan Park wading pool
The plan would be to add more shade, better changing areas and a refrigerated ice rink with a pond/hockey rink in the center. The pool would still be a wading pool, but a new gradual entry pool where the water starts at zero inches and gradually increases in depth.
What happens next?
Tuesday's public meetings were the last touchpoint with the community for awhile, Patton said.
The next steps are to hire design teams to create master plans for each park – which will likely happen early next year.
- Once the master plans are in place, the parks department will go back into neighborhoods to seek feedback on the actual design.
The hope after that is to start construction in 2024.
