More than $85,000 raised for Hayward Park

Megan Raposa -

Simplified: Two groups working to raise money for updates to a northwestern Sioux Falls park have raised a total of $86,000 in donations this month.

Why it matters

Sioux Falls City Councilors earlier this year heard a proposal for substantial updates to Hayward Park.

  • Updates include a splash park, a dog park, a walking loop and new playground equipment.
  • The goal is to raise $200,000 in private donations, half of which is expected to come from Leadership Sioux Falls*, and the other half is expected to come from the Promising Futures Fund, a local nonprofit focused on schools.
  • The service component of Leadership Sioux Falls is relatively new, and this would be the largest financial undertaking by the leadership development program.
"Fortunately, the type of people who are in Leadership Sioux Falls are probably highly engaged, well-compensated and a good potential source of donors," said James Gaspar, a member of the leadership class.

Who's paying for the rest?

Nothing is set in stone, yet. Sioux Falls City Councilors still have to give final approval to spend $2.25 million on park improvements in addition to the $200,000 fundraised.

But they have some extra cash on hand thanks to federal COVID-19 relief funds that reimbursed costs last year and left money in the bank moving forward.

What if I want to get involved?

Donations are being collected through the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation Hayward Park Fund.

*Disclosure: I (Megan Raposa, here) was part of the Leadership Sioux Falls Class 33, but I am not in any way personally involved in the current class's fundraising project.