story by Elizabeth Wastell & Carrie Moritz, Gazette
Last Thursday, Palisades State Park celebrated its expansion with a visit from Lt. Governor Larry Rhoden and a ribbon cutting.
The state park was once South Dakota's smallest, worst-kept-secret getaway spot. In the past few years, visitors neared 100,000 per year and campsites were nearly impossible to obtain.
"Palisades State Park was my playground," said Emcee Kevin Nyberg, as he recalled camping there in his youth. He pointed out that his father would drive their Rambler to the park every year and commute back and forth while his wife and children stayed behind, enjoying their camping experience.
The 157-acre park, which was officially formed as a state park in 1972 but has a long ad storied history for Garretson, more than doubled in size in 2019 when the state of South Dakota purchased 257 acres to the south and west. Since then, the staff at Game, Fish, & Parks have been hard at work establishing the expansion by building a new entrance, roads and hiking trails, 77 more campsites, and planting trees and native flora.
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"There was an opportunity to purchase an 80-acre parcel...which started this vision of an expansion," said Games, Fish & Parks Secretary Kevin Robling.
With the help of then-Governor Dennis Daugaard, who funneled $1.3 million of his own discretionary state funds, the families of the current landowners, and forward-thinking philanthropists, the state was able to purchase over three times more land than the 80 acres and continue along Split Rock Creek down to 256th Street. Overall, the cost of purchase was $1.5 million.
"We couldn't have done it without the willingness of folks to step forward," said Daugaard. He stated that the philanthropic arm of GF&P, the South Dakota Parks and Wildlife Foundation, provided the main thrust of the funding and ability to acquire the land. He especially thanked Dick Brown, the now-retired fund developer of the foundation.
Along with former governor Daugaard, Lt. Governor Rhoden was in attendance to speak at the event. He pointed out that the Palisades expansion was important for the continuation of providing good natural resources for residents and visitors to the state.
Secretary Robling thanked the City of Garretson, who have been great partners in the whole project, he said. He also observed that the nearby town has many great features that are inviting for visitors, and has resources like the grocery store, gas stations, and restaurants.
The park is likely to build to over 300,000 visitors per year over the next several years, and Garretson is expected to see a number of those visitors come through town.
