McKennan Park Centennial: 1908 - 2008

For 100 years, McKennan Park has served the city as a place of beauty and open space. The land has never felt the touch of the plow, and the prairie remains the same as it was. It has now been surrounded by the city, but the park land remains open to whoever wishes to stroll beneath the historic trees in the park, or smell the blooms of the flower gardens. Helen McKennan wanted her land to be a place where children, young people, and mothers with their little babies could come and rest in the cool shade, drinking in the fresh air. Today, the prairie land has changed into a park, and McKennan Park has become the crown jewel of the park system. That is exactly what Helen McKennan and E.A. Sherman wanted.

In 2008, in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the park, the City of Sioux Falls Parks and Recreation will make some significant updates and improvements to McKennan Park. Please review the proposed master plan to see what new features you can expect to find in the park this summer!