Dear Friend,

The Rapid City Park system is a wonderful ribbon of green running through our city. This legacy created as a result of the tragic 1972 flood has been called the “jewel of Rapid City.” It is a refuge from the noise of the city, a place to picnic, jog, swim, walk our dogs, bike, and for our families to participate in a variety of sports. It would be hard for any of us to think of Rapid City without it.

But this jewel needs to be protected, polished and cherished. In the last 30 years since the Flood there have been over 60 buildings erected in the park. If we continue at this pace our wonderful parkland will be nothing more than buildings and parking lots. In addition to this, as our city grows we are not adding parkland to the City nor are we investing enough resources to maintain the quality of the park. The recent trend of chipping away at the core of our parks is alarming and demands action.

Rapid City Parks

I am writing to ask you to join me as a member of “Friends of RC Parks” an organization to preserve protect and promote our parks. We will be an advocate for the parks, keep the interests of the park in the forefront of the public and actively campaign to enhance our parks . I hope that this is an important issue to you as it is to me and I know that our organization will be a force in the effort to preserve this great legacy.

Please take a minute and read our mission statement and fill out our membership application. Membership dues are $25 for individual, $45 for two people and $100 for family of 3 or more. We do accept donations that can be mailed to Friends of Rapid City Parks PO Box 612, Rapid City, South Dakota 57709.

Best Regards,
Steve McCarthy

Our specific goals:

  • To ensure that Rapid City area Parks are managed in a way that preserves this legacy for future generations.
  • To protect Park resources and green space when issues relating to Park development arise.
  • To encourage organizations located on park land to maintain and improve their facilities in a way that complements their surroundings.
  • To support or sponsor events that bring attention to Rapid City parks, their preservation and enhancement.
  • To encourage the Rapid City Council, or other jurisdictions, to expand the Park system and adequately fund Park maintenance.

Board of Directors

  • Greta Chapman, Board Chair
  • Mike Albin, Board Vice Chair
  • Lindsay Frankenfeld, Board Secretary
  • Chris Stover, Board Member
  • Nicole Uhre Balk, Board Member
  • Steve McCarthy, Emeritus and Co-Founder
Meet the Board of Directors