Sioux Falls council adopts 2025–30 parks master plan after amendment to pursue partnerships

The Sioux Falls City Council on Nov. 4 adopted the city’s 2025–2030 Parks and Recreation System Master Plan, a five‑year vision that emphasizes year‑round recreation, maintenance, equitable access and financial stewardship.

Parks and Recreation Director Brett Hollars told the council the plan reflects more than a year of community engagement, including a statistically valid survey and roughly 1,500 public responses. He said the plan prioritizes neighborhood parks, trails and indoor recreation, and recommends reinvesting roughly 3–4% of asset value annually in maintenance.

Councilor Samir McCorris moved an amendment to add language directing staff to “facilitate strategic conversations with potential community partners to determine opportunities to meet the need for indoor recreation space through a public‑private partnership model.” Parks staff signaled support for the amendment, which the council approved unanimously (8–0).

On final adoption of the amended plan the council split 5–3. Councilors who voted in favor said the plan provides a data‑driven roadmap for park investments and better access across neighborhoods; those opposed criticized the document as a vision rather than a detailed operational plan and urged clearer definitions and cost assumptions.

Several councilors and residents pressed staff on specifics during the meeting, including where appendices and market analyses were posted online and how the plan’s population and growth figures were derived. Resident David Salkaitis and others said appendices linked in the online agenda were hard to locate; staff said appendices would be posted and that the plan had been available in draft form throughout the process.

The plan’s adoption directs Parks and Recreation to pursue the plan’s five themes—accessibility, stewardship, year‑round recreation, customer experience and financial sustainability—and to continue community engagement as projects move into design and budgeting.

The council’s vote followed an extended public and council discussion about indoor recreation, program definitions and equitable access. Councilors noted the plan will be implemented through future budget and operational decisions rather than by immediate new spending decisions.

The Parks Master Plan will guide departmental priorities and capital planning over the next five years; staff said more detailed operational and budget proposals will come back through the city’s regular budget process and future council items.