Public input directs Palisades State Park expansion, use

South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks officials are asking the public and local officials to play a key role in establishing the layout and use of a more than 250-acre expansion to Palisades State Park.

The state park, about 20 miles northeast of Sioux Falls near Garretson, has been bursting at the seams for years, said Jeff VanMeeteren, a regional park supervisor in southeast South Dakota with Game, Fish and Parks.

While the park is one of the smallest state parks in the state, it's one of the busiest -- with more than 90,000 people visiting the 157-acre park each year.

The expansion will more than double the park's footprint and add up to 70 campgrounds, new amenities and recreational uses identified by the public.

"This is an opportunity for the entire state of South Dakota and visitors who come here to really benefit from it. It’s such a small park. We desperately needed new space," VanMeeteren said.

More:Palisades State Park to expand by 250 acres to add campsites, amenities

The park, featuring cliffs and rock formations eroded out of pink Sioux Quartzite along the Split Rock Creek, is a destination for campers, hikers, rocker climbers, kayakers and canoers.

Officials are still looking to fundraise the $1.6 million needed to develop the state park, as well as receive public input on how to layout the park's expansion.

Garretson residents, the general public and local officials attended meetings with Game, Fish and Parks officials Wednesday, citing their concerns and highlighting what they think would be good use of the land.

According to a layout suggested by Game, Fish and Parks to "spark discussion and feedback," the expansion could include:

• doubling the amount of campsites
• adding up to four miles of hiking and biking trails
• creating a dog training area
• making an archery trail
• adding picnic and day use areas
• additional access to Split Rock Creek for fishing, canoeing and kayaking

Aside from general excitement around the expansion and what it could mean for Garretson and surrounding businesses, most people attending the meetings were interested in a bike trail running through the park and connecting to Garretson.

The trail could bring Garretson residents to the park and bring visitors into the town, said Shannon Nordstrom, president of the Garretson school board and owner of Nordstrom's Automotive.

"When you've got these two places so close as a community, you want to make sure you tie them together," Nordstrom said. "It'd be an opportunity not just for Garretson, but for the whole area."

More:City Hall estimates $1.45M in flood damages to bridges, parks, athletic fields

Among the biggest concerns for Garretson residents was how visitors would access the park with the expansion, parking woes with increased traffic and an update to the park's 110-year-old bridge.

The current entrance to the park runs along the south side of Garretson. While not running through the town, it's close enough that local officials said the entrance attracts park visitors to the town.

VanMeeteren said the initial idea is to establish an entrance on the south side of the park in the expanded area. This open land would make a welcome center more accessible.

With a house development starting alongside the road that leads to the park's current entrance, it makes a little more sense to move the main entrance, he said.

"If you're going to triple traffic on that road with a housing development and a park expansion, we need to talk about that," VanMeeteren said.

Since this is still in the planning stages, VanMeeteren said officials are open to ideas on how to layout the park. That can include having a designated entrance and exit through the park or having two entrances.

"I'm very grateful for people willing to work with us. They all caught the vision we want to do," VanMeeteren said.

Game, Fish and Parks officials will use the next year to solidify plans for the park's expansion. The first wave of development on the land is planned to start in 2020.