Sioux Falls Empowering Residents To Stay Active This Winter

You can already feel it, that little bite in the air that says, “better dig out your long-johns and electric blanket." Well, brace yourself, because that bite is about to turn into a full-on chomp in the coming weeks.

Old Man Winter is currently stretching in the bullpen, and according to the so-called “weather experts,” he’s gearing up for a particularly cranky season. Translation: get ready for bone-chilling temps and enough “heavenly dandruff” to make you question why you chose to live in South Dakota in the first place.

Every year when Old Man Winter blows into town, many of us South Dakotans retreat into our cozy caves. Suddenly, our natural habitat becomes the couch. We don our winter uniform (otherwise known as a snuggy) and lean into our cold-weather survival rations consisting of bags of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, hot cocoa, and endless Netflix marathons.

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Basically, we become hibernating sloths with Wi-Fi.

But this winter, Sioux Falls is plotting against your inner couch potato. The city wants to get you off your lazy keister and get moving, even when the South Dakota wind feels like it’s trying to peel your face off.

According to Dakota News Now, the city is asking residents to weigh in on how its many indoor recreation facilities can help people stay active and engaged during those long, dark, “why do I live here again?” months.

They’re working on a resident-driven master plan for indoor activities, meaning you get to help decide how Sioux Falls keeps its citizens from becoming human popsicles this winter.

Parks Development Manager Mike Patten told Dakota News Now, “This isn’t my plan, the mayor’s plan, or the park staff’s plan; it’s the residents’ plan. We engage with them, they tell us what they’d like to see, and then we work hard to implement it.”

In other words, Sioux Falls wants to hear from you.

Whether it’s pickleball leagues, indoor walking trails, yoga for people who refuse to bend, underwater basket weaving, or maybe just a place to throw a dodgeball at all your winter frustrations.

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Because let’s face it: a long winter doesn’t have to mean a long break from fun, fitness, and better health.

So, before you burrow into your couch cocoon for the season, take a minute to share your ideas for keeping Sioux Falls moving this winter. You can learn more about the city’s new indoor fitness master plan, and toss in your two cents here.