Sioux Falls Parks and Rec

Should Sioux Falls Parks Board members serve in districts?

l3wis May 29, 2016 2Comments

Thought you all might like to see where the Park Board members live. Notice all are located south of 33rd street and heavily tilted to the Southeast district. No wonder they are always ready to destroy or ignore parks away from their homes.

 

What’s going on with the old ice hockey center, parking at Spellerberg and Foundation Park housing?

l3wis May 28, 2016 7Comments

A few months ago I posed the question of what the city would do with the ice center. I even suggested if they don’t sell it, they could use it for a new city services building, or even better yet, team up with Lincoln & Minnehaha county to offer services.

At the time a city councilor told me that the city wants to sit on it until they run 49th street straight through to Western Avenue, then sell it for development.

Not such a bad idea, but in the same breath, this person told me that the Glory House was interested in expansion and wanted to purchase the property.

I think that would be a fantastic use for the land. Besides, the Glory House isn’t going anywhere, so why not expand at that location? I guess the city has refused sale to them. Seems puzzling that the city has no problem with the expansion of the Arch in a residential neighborhood and the same with a homeless shelter, but a facility that is not very close to residential housing and helps ex convicts back on their feet the city would refuse. Hopefully the council can put pressure on to help this sale go through.

Parking is NOT an issue?

Recently a Spellerberg neighborhood resident when to an open house at the new Aquatic center, they asked what was going to be done to the open ball field area. They were told the parks department was going to try to budget for expanded parking in that area. If this conversation took place and is true, this goes against what was promised with the green space left at Spellerberg. But no surprise with the chain of lies that has come with building this facility. This place will be more cursed than King Tut’s Tomb.

Bring on the Trailer (Foundation) Parks!

There has been a lot of talk about affordable housing in Sioux Falls lately. I have told people if we don’t start tackling the problem aggressively right now, we will be in a crisis mode in 4-5 years. Even with rumors the only reason the city is changing the discrimination laws when it comes to housing is to get more HUD money, one wonder what are plans are?

Foundation Park wants to bring in 40,000 workers. Where will they come from? Where will they live? While we hope these will be all living wage jobs, we know that living wage housing will be cramped. That only leaves us with building enormous apartment complexes, twin homes and more trailer parks. While Foundation Park is a great idea, there doesn’t seem to be much thought going into housing for the workers.

What’s up with the unification of Sioux Falls Swim Teams?

l3wis May 20, 2016 8Comments

Last week there was an announcement that the two opposing swim teams would unify. Which I think is a great idea, but it also brings suspect.

The new aquatic center is set to open this Fall and there have been several discussions with the parks board, the city council and parks department staff on what rates would be charged. Did the swim teams think it would just be easier to schedule time and tournaments if they joined forces? And if so, how will this affect open swimmers?

I guess we will see.

A supporter of an outdoor pool at Spellerberg wrote and informative letter (to the Argus Leader) about the donations to SWIM 365 (Supporters of an indoor pool at Spellerberg);

All one has to do is review the list of wealthy, elite donors and developers who raised more than $125,000 in election support for their swim team children, none of whom are on free and reduced lunches in the school system. Certainly that money would have been better spent on purchasing an appropriate location.

I saw all kinds of problems with the location and project;

• No room for expansion

• No public vote of approval

• An outstanding quit claim deed

• An offer from Sanford to build a competitive pool at Sports Complex (they still may do that, in competition with a public facility).

• Spending re-paid infrastructure loans (the levees) on an entertainment facility

• The questionable millions in subsidies to the pool (will user fees cover it?)

And now we have two swim teams acting as a super power to attain pool time in the new center.

This project was built on a systematic, well orchestrated campaign of lies. We will see how that foundation holds up.

No money in 2nd Penny for water pipes, we need it for new signage and graphics for parks vehicles

l3wis April 21, 2016 20Comments

A simple city logo, what a concept!

It’s only been a few brief days after city directors and even city councilors proclaimed we needed to raise water rates because the 2nd penny is for roads. They even dared to ask the question, “What road projects are you willing to give up if we were to fund water and sewer pipes from the 2nd penny?”

Well, none, McFly, if you budget and appropriate the 2nd penny correctly. Something, they proved once again today, they struggle with;

Sioux Falls Parks and Recreation unveiled a new and updated logo today.

Over time, the logo will be updated on park signage, vehicles, and more.

First off, re-branding is something that is usually done to freshen up a product or service you are already providing. In other words, you are trying to re-sell something old. Except the parks system is not for sale, in fact, for the most part it is free, and in some cases to overpriced for some to afford (swimming). I have often said city department logos should be very simple. Use the city seal with the words of the department in either Times New Roman or Helvetica next to the seal, like Public Works, Health Department, etc.

Secondly, the cost to rebrand will probably be close to a $500K or more, even with our own sign department. That’s a lot of sewer pipe that could have been laid.

We have a mayor who is always so hell bent on selling our town, which isn’t always such a bad thing, but really Mike, you don’t have to sell us something that is already FREE and considered by the citizens as our best asset. Now go fix some roads and water pipes instead fiddling around in art departments.