Crowds Rush To Falls Park

SIOUX FALLS, SD

The lower overlook area at Falls Park is blocked because heavy rains flooded it, but as it didn't stop people from visiting.

When the water rises at Falls Park, the crowds grow.

“I haven't seen them run this high for a pretty long time,” visitor to the falls Bob Anderson said.

With an already wet summer and four to five inches of rain in some parts of Sioux Falls last night, levels were so high at the Falls, that some areas needed to be blocked off.

But people don't seem to care, hundreds turned out to take pictures of the rushing rapids.

“My wife woke me up and saw the falls on KELOLAND News, and I decided I had to come take a look,” Anderson said.

Others were just driving by and didn't want to miss out on the action.

“We saw it and said we got to stop, so my husband's in the car waiting,” visitor to the falls Frankie Hein said.

“The lower end actually looks like the upper end usually looks like which is pretty amazing,” Anderson said.

Park officials say the falls have been this high in the past, but these levels are unheard of in July.
And while visitors enjoyed the photo-op, they realize not everything is picture perfect.

“I'm kind of glad on days like today that we actually sold our home about five months ago and got ourselves an upper level condo,” Anderson said.

Those who work at Falls Park, enjoy the extra traffic, as long as people stay safe and on the marked path.

Officials say the water levels have already started to go down, but the barricades will continue to stay up until the safety of visitors is no longer a worry.