Jacobsen Plaza Phase II

A new view of the Upper Falls

The Everist Family Overlook will create a new public gathering place with a direct view of the Upper Falls of the Big Sioux River, immediately upstream from the city's namesake waterfalls.

Its location places visitors close to the water while connecting several of downtown Sioux Falls' most significant public and private investments. Jacobson Plaza is directly to the west, the River Greenway follows the river below and The Steel District — including Canopy by Hilton Sioux Falls Downtown — rises immediately to the south.

The overlook is designed as more than a viewing point. It will become part of the larger pedestrian experience, giving people a place to pause, gather and see the river before continuing into Falls Park.

Improving access to Falls Park

A central goal of Phase II is to improve the connection between Jacobson Plaza, the riverfront and Falls Park.

The project will remove the existing switchback path near the railroad bridge and regrade the area to create a more direct accessible route into Falls Park. The surrounding terrain also will be reshaped to make the middle green space more level, usable and connected.

When complete, visitors will be able to move more naturally between the attractions at Jacobson Plaza, the Everist Family Overlook, the Downtown River Greenway and Falls Park itself.

This connectivity is especially important in an area that now brings together recreation, hospitality, restaurants, housing, offices and one of South Dakota's most visited natural landmarks.

Completing the Jacobson Plaza vision

Jacobson Plaza opened in 2025 as a year-round recreation destination with an inclusive playground, skating ribbon, splash pad, dog park, gathering space and improved trail connections.

Phase II extends that vision toward the Big Sioux River. In addition to the overlook, the project includes connective pathways, flexible green space, landscaping and infrastructure improvements. Plans also call for a plaza south of Second Street that can serve as a new setting for the city's Christmas tree.

Together, these improvements will help close the remaining gap between Jacobson Plaza and the riverfront. The finished landscape will feel less like separate attractions and more like one continuous public experience extending from downtown to the Falls.

A project made possible through community support

The Everist Family Overlook and Phase II improvements are being made possible through a $2.65 million philanthropic gift from Garry and Dianne Jacobson and Rob Everist through the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation.

We are grateful to the Jacobson and Everist families for investing in a place that will be used by Sioux Falls residents and visitors for generations. Their support is covering the design and construction of the new pathways, green space, landscaping, drainage, utilities and overlook.

Thank you to the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation for helping turn that generosity into a public project, and to the City of Sioux Falls and Sioux Falls Parks and Recreation for their construction administration, geotechnical coordination and continued stewardship of Jacobson Plaza and Falls Park.

We also recognize Confluence for the landscape architecture and planning work that has helped shape the broader vision for Jacobson Plaza, the Downtown River Greenway and Falls Park.

Urban Oasis is grateful to every supplier, trade partner and crew member contributing to the work. A project of this scale depends on people who understand that quality is built through coordination, accuracy and attention to details that often will not be visible once construction is complete.

Documenting the work

Special thanks to Michael Woolheater Media for documenting the project as it develops.

Large public landscapes are often judged only by their finished appearance, but much of the most important work happens well before the final plants, pathways and gathering spaces are in place. Michael's construction photography and visual storytelling preserve that process — from excavation and grading to boulder placement and the gradual formation of the overlook.

His documentation provides a record of the people, equipment, materials and careful decisions behind this significant addition to Falls Park. It also gives Urban Oasis the opportunity to share how a complex Sioux Falls landscape construction project moves from plans on paper to a lasting public space.

Building spaces that become part of the community

The Everist Family Overlook reflects the kind of work Urban Oasis values most: technically demanding outdoor construction with a clear purpose and a lasting connection to its surroundings.

Our team provides site development, excavation, concrete and hardscape construction for residential, commercial and public projects throughout the Sioux Falls area. By managing projects from the first stages of site work through final completion, we help ensure that every component supports the same finished vision.

Planning a distinctive outdoor project? Contact Urban Oasis to begin the conversation.