Multi-million dollar Capitol Lake project raising eyebrows amongst former backers

Veterans who pushed for renovations unhappy with changes

The South Dakota State Capitol behind the Flaming Fountain and memorial to fallen first responders. (Austin Goss/The Dakota Scout)

PIERRE — The South Dakota Capitol Complex and its most famous memorial are scheduled to get a multi-million dollar facelift in the coming years. 

The grandiose designs for the $20 million overhaul of the area surrounding Capitol Lake — unveiled in July — have veterans who’ve been pushing for the project’s funding unhappy.

“I don’t think this is a war memorial proposal,” said John Moisan, who has led a group of Pierre area veterans since 2015 in fighting for updates to the complex that features the Flaming Fountain and the Fighting Stallions memorials. “I think it just comes across more as an upgrade at the Capitol grounds now.”

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