The people want parks. City Councilors got a look at survey results related to a citywide five-year plan for parks, and the big ask folks have is to improve existing neighborhood parks. Other priorities include more connections to the existing trail system, more adult wellness programming, more indoor and outdoor recreation space and more special events in parks.
What happens next? The city is working with consultants who are now going to bring a draft report and recommendations to the council in September.
What to watch: Councilors had questions about how this broader plan will relate to individual master plans for Falls Park, Family Park, golf courses within the city and more.
A new, indoor Farmers Market. The Falls Park Farmers Market now has a winter home at Mosaic Sioux Falls. More than a dozen businesses have signed up to participate, and more details will be released on specific dates throughout the winter. See the vendors and specifics here.
City to consider passing card fees on to customers. The City of Sioux Falls has been absorbing the cost of credit card fees for folks paying the city for various things from utility bills to public parking, but that could change with a vote from City Council in the coming weeks. Last year, the city paid more than $820,000 in credit card fees, and this proposed change would just tack those fees onto the folks making the payment instead.
Calling all muralists. The city put out a call for artists to paint a mural on the historic Orpheum Theatre downtown. You can attend an informational meeting at 5:30 p.m. Monday at the downtown library and find more details here.
Another big new playground in the works. The Sertoma Club is raising money for new, inclusive playground equipment at Sertoma Park. The fundraising started a few years ago, but it's restarting in earnest, according to a story from Keloland. You can learn more about the project here, and here's a look at what that new playground equipment could look like: