City of Sioux Falls
Comprehensive Parks and Recreation System Master Plan
| Location: | Completed: | Project Type: | Partners: |
| Sioux Falls, South Dakota | January 2026 | City-Wide Parks and Recreation Master Plan | Confluence ETC Institute |
Sioux Falls, the largest city in South Dakota, sits at the heart of the region and pairs a vibrant downtown and big-city amenities with small city hospitality. The City’s Parks and Recreation Department maintains public open spaces, delivers a comprehensive system of parks and recreation facilities, and creates positive leisure opportunities for all residents, continuing a long legacy of high-quality service.
Accredited by the Commission for Accreditation of Parks and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA) since 2010, SFPR meets national best practices across more than 150 measured standards. CAPRA, the only national accreditation for parks and recreation, recognizes excellence in operations and service; SFPR is one of just 213 accredited agencies among 8,000+ systems nationwide, underscoring its accountability, quality management, and commitment to community outcomes.
This Parks and Recreation System Master Plan engaged the community to shape a shared vision for the future of parks and recreation in Sioux Falls. Input was gathered through focus groups, stakeholder interviews, public forums, a statistically
valid needs assessment survey, and a project website that provided more engagement tools such as a vision board, mapping activity, and online survey. Community feedback was integrated with technical research and analysis to produce the final plan from January to October 2025. Public engagement consistently praised the quality of maintenance and the accessibility of diverse park experiences, from Falls Park to the Recreation Trail. Signature destinations, including the Great Plains Zoo & Delbridge Museum of Natural History, Great Bear Recreation Park, Mary Jo Wegner Arboretum & East Sioux Falls Historic Site, the Levitt Performance Venue, Jacobson Plaza, and the Westside Recreation Center, are major community assets, and SFPR’s program portfolio reaches all ages and interests.
SFPR is widely recognized as a best-practice agency for delivering consistent maintenance excellence and equitable levels of service for residents and visitors. This Master Plan positions SFPR to continue offering innovative, well-balanced facilities and programs as the City grows over the next five years. To sustain this high standard, PROS recommended that SFPR must stay ahead of infrastructure and asset needs, invest in improvements to existing amenities and trails, and maintain equity across the system as the City expands. SFPR should also add amenities that meet evolving needs, such as year-round indoor space and winter recreation, acquire new land for future parks and trails, and secure additional funding sources to support a “park system of excellence.” With these actions, SFPR is well-positioned to build on its legacy over the next five years, providing a comprehensive mix of high-quality parks, facilities, programs, and services that elevate quality of life across Sioux Falls.
