Simplified: West-side parents, rejoice! The City of Sioux Falls this month opened a new indoor playground at the Westside Recreation Center. It's one of several upgrades to the facility the city purchased just over a year ago. Here's a closer look.

Why it matters

  • The city purchased the center from Sanford for $9 million in late 2024 as a way to bring more indoor recreation to Sioux Falls. An additional $3 million for repairs to the building was included in an aquatics bond passed last year.
  • Those improvements include adding a 1,600-square-foot indoor playground designed for kids age 11 and younger. The city also made improvements to the parking lot, updated carpet and lighting, resurfaced the gym, and is in the process of replacing the roof.
  • Last year, the recreation center saw more than 188,000 visitors and now has more than 4,400 passholders. And the demand for indoor recreation keeps growing with a 19% increase in traffic so far this year.
“The indoor playground enhances our ability to serve young families by giving children more ways to play, explore and stay active year‑round,” said Brett Kollars, assistant director for the city’s parks and recreation department. “We’re excited to continue improving this facility so it remains a welcoming space for all residents.”

Show me the playground

Features include a toddler play area, a multi-level play structure with slides, a rock wall and a "Stomp" interactive play game emphasizing movement (similar to the thing at the mall playground, if you know you know).

Here are some more photos:

What to know before you visit

In addition to the indoor playground, the recreation center also includes an indoor pool, hot tub, sauna, gym space, and fitness equipment.

Day passes are $6 for kids, $8 for adults and $26 for families, with discounts available for seniors and veterans. There's also reduced-income pricing for families who receive free or reduced school lunches or Medicaid benefits.

Family annual passes are $650, and individual annual passes are $404 for adults and $246 for kids. Learn more and get your passes here.