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Sioux Falls Parks Foundation Announces Major Gift for Midco Aquatic Center
The Sioux Falls Parks Foundation today announced a $500,000 gift from philanthropists and civic volunteers Joe and Jennifer Kirby to renovate and expand the locker room areas at the Midco Aquatic Center.
The renovation and expansion project, which will begin in 2024, is designed to better serve individuals and families who visit the aquatic facility, which city officials say served more than 220,000 users last year alone.
“The Midco Aquatic Center is extremely popular among all age groups and its usage continues to surpass our expectations. This project will not only reimagine and expand the locker room space, it will effectively double the number of lockers, making it easier and more convenient for individuals and families to enjoy this special facility,” said Don Kearney, Director of Parks and Recreation. “We are extremely grateful to Joe and Jennifer Kirby for stepping forward to make this project a reality.”
Kearney said the project is the latest in a series of private-public partnerships designed to enhance new and existing park and recreation areas across the city. The total cost of the project is $1.2 million, with the City of Sioux Falls contributing $700,000.
“The spirit of giving in our community is simply outstanding,” Kearney said. “Thanks to philanthropy, we are enriching our city’s parks and recreation system in so many exciting ways — ways that our entire community will enjoy for generations to come.”
‘Making a fantastic facility even better’
An avid swimmer, Jennifer Kirby uses the aquatic center on a regular basis. She said expanded locker room spaces will make “a fantastic facility even better.”
“The Midco Aquatic Center is truly a gem in our community — a state-of-the-art facility that so many individuals and families use for fun and fitness. As our city continues to grow, we anticipate that the number of aquatic center users will also increase, so this project is coming at the right time,” Kirby said. “Joe and I were honored to work with the Sioux Falls Parks Foundation to bring the idea for this gift to life.”