PARKS, RECREATION, & FORESTRY
Park Department

Park, Recreation and Forestry
Allyn Frerichs, Director
David Karolcvak, Park & Forestry Superintendent
221 Main Avenue
Brookings, SD 57006-2077
605 692-2708 Phone
605 697-8355 Fax
mdempster@cityofbrookings.org

Mission Statement
The purpose of the park section of Parks, Recreation and Forestry is to provide parcels of open-space, green areas throughout the city, for aesthetic purposes, as sites for recreation activities and to reduce the perceived and real population density of residential areas.

Programs and Services
The parks department builds and maintains the parks in the Brookings Park system, comprising over 500 acres. Included are a municipal golf course, an indoor ice arena, 6-mile bike/recreational trail, baseball/football complex, softball complex, small mini-parks, neighborhood parks and playgrounds and community parks. The department also cooperates closely with the Brookings school district in building and maintaining joint school/park facilities.

The parks department maintains a fully equipped maintenance fleet of vehicles, mowers and specialty equipment. A full-time staff of 12 employees, assisted by 30 seasonal employees, provides all maintenance and plays a significant role in developing and constructing new parks.

A long-term benefit of the park system is assurance that open space and parks will be available into the future in developed neighborhoods. The activities in these parks may change over the years, but once the land is developed residentially, it is unlikely that it can be converted back to open space.