As a featured component of the Jacobson Plaza, a highly anticipated ice skating ribbon is currently under construction downtown and is set to be completed during mid-2025
With its approximately 14,000 square feet, the ribbon will have the capacity to accommodate 225 skaters and is expected to operate from Nov. to March. Its refrigeration technology will ensure a longer skating season, distinguishing it from the city’s natural rinks. Currently, Sioux Falls is home to six options for outdoor skating rinks: Campus Park, Frank Olson Park, McKennan Park, Memorial Park, Sherman Park and Tuthill Park. Among these, three offer free skate rentals and warming houses.
The ice ribbon will offer skate rental services at a price of $3 per individual and will be accompanied by a restaurant as well as a warming house/gathering hall. Admission is expected to be priced at a rate of $5 for 45 minutes of skate time. Inside the gathering hall, there will be space designated for private rental year-round, with food services overseen by The Washington Pavilion. The entire plaza will feature an off-leash dog park (Pawsible Park), the city’s largest playground and the T. Denny Sanford Splash Pad. These amenities are notably accessible, with a special emphasis on the integration of features designed to accommodate all ages and abilities.
“We anticipate Jacobson Plaza [to be] a major draw to Falls Park, as well as the downtown area,” said Parks Planning and Project Manager Mike Patten. “It will provide year-round experiences that draw visitors from within Sioux Falls as well as the surrounding region.”
With initial plans for the project beginning in late 2021, the design process lasted roughly 18 months with construction following shortly thereafter. The funding for the plaza was split in a public/private partnership, with around half of the costs financed by private donors.
“The donor was a lifelong citizen of Sioux Falls and successful businessman who wanted to give back to his community with a legacy gift,” said Patten. “Public/private partnerships allow for larger projects to be completed in a quicker time, compared to if there [were] only tax dollars available to make the improvements.”
The Jacobson Plaza sits just west of Falls Park and neighbors both the Levitt Shell and the Steel District Development. Accessible along Phillips Ave., the plaza is designed to connect the downtown area with the city’s namesake.
“It provides residential opportunities, increased tax revenue from shopping and entertainment and makes people want to live, work and play in that community,” said Patten. “Having a vibrant and diverse downtown increases the overall value of any community.”
Construction for the plaza began in late 2023, maintaining a public budget of $18.5 million. Though previously expected to be open in time for this year’s winter season, construction and weather conditions have delayed its completion until June of 2025. While ice skating on the ribbon will not be open to the public this year, the integration of such a large project promises meaningful progress for the city’s downtown area.
More details about the skating ribbon can be found at https://www.siouxfalls.gov/business-permits/development-projects/future-planning/park-planning/jacobson-plaza
