Great Bear Plans For The Future

Many people who live in the Sioux Falls area head to Great Bear Recreation Park during the winter months.
    
After going through an expansion about 15 years ago, park officials feel it's now time to continue growing with the community.

While it's not snow season just yet, Great Bear Recreation Park in Sioux Falls is already planning for some big changes.

"We've got some definite needs at Great Bear.  Over the last 10 to 12 years, we have grown with the community and we have out grown the lodge.  The lodge isn't big enough," Great Bear General Manager Dan Grider said.

And the lodge isn't the only thing needing an expansion.  Last year, some riders spent a lot of time waiting in line to tube.

"Our tubing hill, which is very popular, we have started to out grow that.  Sometimes there can be some lengthy lines there so we would like to add more lanes there," Grider said.

15 years ago, Great Bear went through its first expansion. And now as the planning continues, the park expects to pay even more than before.

"I anticipate that we are going to be a little north of the $3 million that the last expansion was," Grider said.

As officials do some planning of their own, they're also asking the public for their opinion as well.

"We think that everything we are talking about at this point is very doable and we are very excited to see what the public has to say and what do they want," Grider said.

And you may even see some of your ideas put into action in the near future.

"I would love to start seeing things happening in the next 18 to 24 months," Grider said.

Grider says they are even considering putting in an ice rink because they feel it would round out the facility even more.  If you want to offer a suggestion, head over to the Great Bear Recreation Park website.