$2.5M skate park brings top-level skating to Sioux Falls

Years-long initiative to bring state-of-the-art concrete skate park to South Dakota complete

A professional-grade skate park has opened for skateboarding, BMX bicycling and rollerblading in central Sioux Falls.

A years-long initiative to bring a state-of-the-art concrete skate park to the city culminated Thursday with a ribbon cutting for the Barb Iverson Skate Plaza, where public officials, project backers and skaters of all ages celebrated the completion of the $2.5 million project.

“Seeing this park come to fruition has been a labor of love from so many individuals passionate about bringing a world-class skatepark to Sioux Falls,” said Allison Dvorak, the president of Let’s Skate Board, which worked with the city of Sioux Falls and the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce to bring the 25,000-square-foot skatepark to fruition at 10th Street and Cliff Avenue. “I look forward to seeing our mission of building community through skateboarding continue to be realized through the use and programming of this park.”

Named in memory of a popular middle school teacher who championed skateboarding for young people, the Barb Iverson Skate Plaza features a flow bowl area with spaces designed for skateboarders of all abilities, including an advanced section, a rock terrace feature, a street plaza lane and grind rails.

Of the $2.5 million it took to get the park built, Let’s Skate raised $1.7 million for the project while the Parks and Recreation and Sioux Falls City Council funded $800,000 for site improvements, including rough grading, utilities, lighting, pedestrian connections and landscaping.

Newline Skateparks designed and built the skate park.

“This is an incredible example of a public-private partnership to support kids and our quality of life in our community. This skate park will bring even more energy to this popular area for kids and families with the existing Drake Springs Family Aquatic Center,” said Mayor Paul TenHaken. “I’m excited to see skateboarders of all levels and ages use this park and connect with their peers.”

The park’s namesake — Barb Iverson — was a Patrick Henry Middle School English teacher who died in 2021. According to Let’s Skate, Iverson invested her own money in ramps for her backyard and even transported teenagers to out-of-town skate parks before Sioux Falls built its first skate park at Drake Springs Park in 1998.

Let’s Skate will host the First Skate Weekend July 11-13, featuring professional skaters Brandon Turner, Dan Mancina, Jaime Reyes, and Eli Williams. More information about Let’s Skate Opening Weekend: lets-skate.com. The Barb Iverson Skate Plaza is located at Nelson Park (200 S. Fairfax Avenue) and is open daily from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.