City Of Sioux Falls: Pool Season Begins, Planning For The Future Of Aquatics

Sioux Falls SD

14 June, 2022

7:59 AM

Description

Press release from the City of Sioux Falls: June 11, 2022 One characteristic that initially drew my wife Jill and me to establish roots in Sioux Falls was the community's excellent amenities and quality of life. Twenty-two years later, that love of our parks and outdoor spaces is even greater, as Sioux Falls continues to earn national recognition as one of the best places to live in America. A key ingredient that makes our city so great is the plethora of entertainment and outdoor recreation options. From our bike trails to our parks and green spaces, these amenities enhance the quality of life in our community. With new projects like Jacobson Plaza at Falls Park and upgrades to Hayward Park on the horizon, the list of amenities only stands to get better. Whether you just moved to Sioux Falls or your family has lived here for generations, summer is the perfect time to explore our community and try something new. There's something for all ages—from free concerts at Levitt at the Falls in downtown Sioux Falls to activities at neighborhood parks. During the summer months, I spend a lot of time on the bike trails, and it's fantastic to see so many people taking advantage of the trails and prioritizing their health and wellness. If you need some added motivation, there's still time to join the third annual Mayor's Fitness Challenge. Learn more at siouxfalls.org/100miles. Sioux Falls residents love aquatics, and the start of the pool season on June 3 has been highly anticipated. All City pools will be open this year for the first time since 2019. Compared to last year's hiring shortages, we're thankful to be in the position to open all of our pools. Information about the City's aquatic centers and swim passes is available here. During what is a nationwide lifeguard shortage, our Parks and Recreation team has been hard at work to secure staffing for our outdoor pools and aquatic centers. According to the American Lifeguard Association, the lifeguard shortage could prevent about a third of the 309,000 pools across the U.S. from opening. It's no small feat to train, onboard, and schedule lifeguards to safely staff our pools. We're also planning for the future of aquatics in our community and looking at opportunities to replace the pools at McKennan, Kuehn, and Frank Olson parks, as well as refresh several other aging pools in the community. Watch for details about how you can provide input during our community engagement process. I hope you have a great summer in our wonderful community! This press release was produced by the City of Sioux Falls. The views expressed here are the author's own.