SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — When the Big Sioux River broke her banks in late June, it brought floodwater into the surrounding areas. That floodwater, as it flowed, took with it not just trees and debris, but also picnic tables, porta-potties and dumpsters.
More than a week out from the flooding, the City of Sioux Falls is still working on getting things cleaned up and repaired.
Josh Johnson, District Park Supervisor for the City, gave an update Monday afternoon.
As of Monday, Johnson says all parks in the city are open, with the exception of Spencer Park.
“Spencer Park is currently closed, mainly due to the reconstruction of the parking lot, which will be taking place starting today — July 8,” said Johnson.
This parking lot reconstruction is not due to the flood, but rather a bit of pre-planned maintenance, according to Johnson, though he added that the flood moved up the timeline of the project.
Once the dog park at Spencer Park is cleaned up, Johnson noted that it and the rest of the park will be accessible from the recreation trail.
“As for Spencer Park,” Johnson said, “there was some damage to the fencing to the dog park area, and some of the gates were damaged.”
Johnson says the current priorities in the parks are to make sure all the playgrounds are safe, and that electrical components damaged in the flooding are repaired.
Clean-up and repairs have been underway, but Johnson says the department has been hamstrung by continued wet weather. “We need it to dry out a little bit,” he said. “It has been so wet over the last few weeks — we need some time and some patience to get into these areas to make sure they’re safe and that we don’t cause any additional damage.”
As for the park objects washed into the river, Johnson says these include porta-potties and picnic tables washed downriver from Spencer Park and Yankton Trail, as well as a pair of dumpsters, one of which came to a rest on the bank east of Cliff Ave.
“It’s just a matter of taking the time to put everything back in its place,” said Johnson who went on to urge people to stay off of flood debris and to keep out of areas with barricades or which are otherwise marked off, such as the playground at Rotary Park.
