Work starts on $2.5M skate park in Sioux Falls
The Barb Iverson Skate Park will be one of the largest in the country once completed
The construction of a $2.5 million professional-grade skate park that's been years in the making is underway in Sioux Falls.
The city of Sioux Falls and a nonprofit partner that orchestrated the project broke ground Thursday on the 20,000-square-foot park that will be one of the largest in the nation upon its completion.
"We are excited to break ground on this state-of-the-art skatepark that will provide a place for skateboarders of all ages and skill levels to enjoy," Sioux Falls Parks Director Don Kearney said during a groundbreaking ceremony at the site of the future skate park near 10th Street and Cliff Avenue.
PHOTO GALLERY: Check out scenes from the Barb Iverson Skate Park groundbreaking
Named for a longtime Sioux Falls educator who passed away in 2021, plans for the Barb Iverson Skate Park came to fruition as a result of a partnership between the city and "Let's Skate," an area organization formed in 2017 to facilitate fundraising for the then conceptual skate park.
The city contributed $800,000 to the project, and Let's Skate raised an additional $1.7 million to get the funding across the finish line.
"We are grateful for the support of the City of Sioux Falls and our community in bringing this skatepark to life," said Alix Johnson, a Let's Skate board member. "The Barb Iverson Skate Plaza will be a place where skateboarders can come together to learn, grow, and have fun."
A rock terrace, a street plaza lane, and grind rails are just a few of the features that the park will have, which will be open for skaters and BMX riders of all ability levels when the park is completed in June 2024.
"The Barb Iverson Skate Plaza is a testament to the power of public-private partnerships and the community's commitment to providing our youth with safe recreational opportunities," Kearney said.
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