Happy Friday! Megan here.
Weather check: Coats over costumes, folks
🕐PSA: It's the end of Daylight Saving Time this weekend, which means we'll "fall back" and gain an hour of sleep on Sunday.*
- *Unless you, like me, have small children, in which case have fun with nightmare bedtimes for the next week. Spooooooooky 👻
This week, you'll find quite a bit of parks-related news. First, get a look at the new Arrowhead Park house, which opened this week. Then, you'll also get a virtual video tour of the proposed design for the new Frank Olson Park indoor pool and recreation center before it moves to the City Council for final approval next week. Plus, catch a few Super Simplified Stories and a behind-the-scenes look from our friends at the zoo.
And now, news:
CITY
Meet the newest addition to Sioux Falls parks
Simplified: The city this week marked the opening of the Arrowhead Park house, a new facility for parks and recreation programming that’s also available to rent for private events. Here's a look at the house.
Why it matters
- Arrowhead Park was donated to the city by Dorothy and Dale Weir in the late 90s. The house was still inhabited for awhile after that, but then it sat empty until the city began renovations.
- The parks department plans to use the house, which overlooks the old rock quarry in east Sioux Falls, for lots of nature-focused programming – a core value of the Weir family.
- In addition to private rentals, the city will use the space for programs involving outdoor exploration, snowshoeing, bird-watching, and summer camps in partnership with the Mary Jo Wegner Arboretum, Recreation Manager Jackie Nelson said.
"I think the arboretum and Arrowhead Park are two maybe lesser- known facilities we have," Park Development Manager Mike Patten said. "But they're fantastic ... it's just a terrific experience, and to finally renovate the Arrowhead House itself, it's kind of a development capstone."
Show me the house
COMMUNITY
Get a look at the latest plans for the Frank Olson indoor rec center
Simplified: The design for the new indoor pool and recreation center at Frank Olson Park is nearing completion, which means this is likely the last chance for the community to give feedback before the city moves forward with the $47 million project. Here's what you need to know.
Why it matters
- The new facility marks the culmination of years of work to replace the aging pool at Frank Olson Park, and earlier this year, the Sioux Falls City Council approved a bond to fund construction of the new $47 million facility. That same bond also included funding for a new, $18 million outdoor pool at Kuehn Park.
- Before the city can move forward in selling those bonds, the council has to give approval to the schematic design, which received unanimous approval from the parks board earlier this week.
- The schematic design shows the most detailed look so far at the various facility features, including big windows, open spaces, indoor playgrounds, pools and more.
"It’s just schematic at this point," Parks Development Manager Mike Patten said. "Our goal is to have it set up so it can be as flexible to whichever direction we want to go to."
Tell me more
Find virtual video tours of the schematic design here.
SIMPLIFIED PRESENTS
Behind the scenes: How the zoo prepared for a snow leopard cub
This is a paid piece from the Sioux Falls Zoo and Aquarium.
Simplified: The Great Plains Zoo welcomed its first snow leopard cub in decades earlier this year: a baby girl named Asha. It's a win for both the zoo and the snow leopard species, and quite a bit of work went on behind-the-scenes to make sure everything went smoothly.
Why it matters
- Snow leopards are a vulnerable species, according to the World Wildlife Fund, which means they face a high risk of extinction in the wild. That means a new cub like Asha is a big deal in helping preserve the species.
- The Great Plains Zoo has tried a handful of breeding pairs, as recommended by a species survival program through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, but Asha's parents, Denali and Strut, mark the first successful breeding since 2004.
- Much of the process involves setting the animals up for success and letting nature run its course, according to zookeepers, but there's also a tremendous amount of behind-the-scenes work that goes into training the animals for veterinary care, monitoring hormones, and making sure the transition to parenthood is as seamless as possible.
"This is why we get into this field is to try to save these animals from extinction," Carnivore Supervisor Angela Blommer said. "Every birth is important, but to know that it is happening in front of you, to see Denali become pregnant and then become a very, very good mother – it's such a proud moment."
Tell me more about the breeding process
TL;DR
Super Simplified Stories
- A new community space. Central Sioux Falls neighbors gathered this week to celebrate the ribbon cutting for Lincoln Commons, a partnership between neighbors and the Sioux Falls School District to reimagine the former site of Lincoln Elementary School as a park at Ninth Street and Grange Avenue. You can find a little more context on the park here. And even more context on the significance from Patrick Lalley at Sioux Falls Live.
- A new way to hit the links.* The Back Nine Golf in Sioux Falls offers a state‑of‑the‑art indoor golf simulator facility open 24/7, letting golfers of all skill levels play virtual rounds on world‑class courses rain or shine. Their membership model provides perks like unlimited tee times, guest privileges, and discounts on events and merchandise. Learn more here, and be sure to check out their grand opening event Nov. 8.
- Meet The Agency Recruiting.* The Agency Recruiting, founded in 2023 by Logan Koopman, is redefining recruiting in Sioux Falls. The fast-growing agency focuses on people first, and by building genuine relationships, they're finding the right fit to set both clients and candidates up for long-term success. Learn more here.
- The largest city project in history is complete. The city this week marked the official ribbon cutting of its newly renovated and expanded $215 million Water Reclamation Facility. It's a project years in the making, and it'll increase the facility's capacity by about 50 percent with the ability to treat up to 30 million gallons per day. Here's a look at the facility:
THIS AND THAT
What I'm falling for this week:
ICYMI
More Simplified Stories
Megan Raposa
Megan Raposa
Megan Raposa
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