On any given day, you can find something to do in Sioux Falls thanks to philanthropy.
From parks to paths to museums and music, generous people have shaped how we spend our time in the community.
For Paul and Mary Ellen Connelly, helping create beautiful areas is part of their philosophy on how important green spaces are to the health and vibrancy of a community and neighborhood.
Mary Ellen said when they would visit other parts of the country, she found herself drawn to public gardens and green spaces. During one of those trips, she was inspired by the work of women landscape architects.
“We have this legacy in the world for beautiful spaces in our cities,” Mary Ellen said. “Even in the Bible, the garden theme is woven through.”
The Japanese Gardens
For Mary Ellen, it inspired her to begin sourcing unique plants for Sioux Falls and beautifying public spaces. In the 1980s she read in the Argus Leader of a small group of people that had convinced the city to spend money to clean up the area in Terrace Park along Covell Lake called the Oriental Gardens. She and several gardening and artist friends teamed up with this group to form the Japanese Garden Committee to raise additional funds to supplement the city and park department’s major support over the years. After several stages of improvement to the garden, the Japanese Garden Committee gave its residual funds to the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation.
“Because of the Community Foundation, the Japanese Garden Committee has been able to maintain an endowment to support Mr. Ben Chu’s 30 years of annual consultation and pruning visits – and Ben’s visits have kept many of us involved,” Mary Ellen said. Chu, of the Missouri Botanical Gardens, is a pruning expert who has been instrumental in the success and beauty of the gardens.
She also is part of Sioux Falls Beautiful – a legacy of Tom Kilian who organized the small group to advocate for a more beautiful city. This group helped spawn the Mary Jo Wegner Arboretum, which they considered to be an integral element of the community.
“We have always been avid users of the park system,” said Paul. “We celebrate family birthdays there and often use park facilities.”
Mary Kolsrud, chief philanthropy officer, said the Connellys have been steadfast supporters of the community.
“Mary Ellen is all about natural spaces to improve neighborhoods,” Kolsrud said. “Her dedication to creating beautiful spaces is a perfect example of how philanthropy can transform a community in lasting and meaningful ways.”
Growing community parks
The Connellys decided they wanted to further support the parks system.
“Mary Ellen and I are both really interested in keeping up Sioux Falls’ core neighborhoods,” Paul said. “They are so key to our city, and we need safe, beautiful places for families to go.”
They began looking at the area at Ninth Street and Grange Avenue, the familiar site of the now demolished Lincoln Elementary School. There’s a community garden there and the rest of the space is open and grassy, and they wondered if they could help enhance it.
Plus, it had long been on their radar – Sioux Falls Beautiful had identified the Pettigrew Heights and Cathedral areas to advocate for a neighborhood park that didn’t require crossing the busiest streets.
But the space is owned by the Sioux Falls School District. After some discussion, the Connellys attended a neighborhood meeting to learn more about what is now called Lincoln Commons.
“There were maybe 20 or 30 neighborhood families there that talked about what they would like to see to enhance that space,” Paul said. After that, he and Mary Ellen decided they wanted to donate matching funds to support Lincoln Commons.
“We’re really excited about it,” Paul said. “It’s going to be a beautiful park. The neighborhood is so nice there, and the residents care about the area.”
Superintendent Jane Stavem said in a release earlier this year that the enhanced Lincoln Park will create unique learning opportunities for students at nearby Axtell Park while also fostering a positive relationship among neighbors.
Mary Ellen said beautiful public spaces serve many purposes – including just a general feeling of well-being.
“Beautiful spaces are an affordable luxury everyone can have and share,” Paul said.
The Sioux River Red Rock Trail in Dell Rapids winds about 5 miles along the southern edge of town and has been a labor of love for nearly two decades. It all began with a conversation between Linsey Duffy and Jill Schumaker.
Read More
Starting in the spring of 2025, the Premiere Playhouse will be taking its community education role to new venues – the Community Learning Centers through the Sioux Falls School District.
Read More