This year marks the 100th anniversary of the creation of National Parks.
One group in the state is trying to remind people that all parks hold value from the biggest open spaces like the Badlands all the way down to the small city parks.
Michael Stanley is a landscape architect in Rapid City.
“The National Parks always seem to get a majority of the press. But there is really little gems all throughout the entire state of South Dakota. And, city parks are a vital part of city infrastructure whether it be open space, storm water handling, relaxation, places to go for meditation,” says Stanley.
Stanley points to the series of parks that were developed after the 1972 flood in Rapid City, Storybook Land in Aberdeen, and Falls Park in Sioux Falls as examples of great places in South Dakota.
Officials with Rapid City say parks also underpin economic development efforts including recruitment of new workers.
The local chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects is hosting a free showing of the PBS Television show 10 Parks that Changed America at the Dahl in Rapid City Tuesday, April 12th at 7pm.
The documentary 10 Parks that Changed America is also scheduled for air this month on SDPB-TV .