Blocked Streets: Rude to Church Goers and Residents

Twice in the past month, thousands of people attending church Sunday morning in downtown experienced the nearly impossible task getting to and from their place of worship. Barricades blocked most streets.

Runners and walkers took over the core of our city for the recent city approved Sioux Falls Sports Authority Marathon and Susan G. Komen Run/Walk for the Cure.  Both of these events, and many others, are good for our community. Exercise and raising money to fight diseases are worthy efforts. Thousands of people participate.

However,  taking over downtown on nearly back to back Sunday mornings borders on rudeness to church goers and the businesses who have chosen to be open on Sunday morning.

Can you imagine the reaction of businesses and customers if the 41st Street and Louise Avenue area was blocked several times a year for similar events?

In the old days there wasn't  much happening in downtown any day of the week. Now, the area is alive with people, and commerce every day, including Sunday.

Recently downtown businesses pushed the city and event promoters to hold parades and crowd-drawing events on Saturdays and moved some further north on Phillips. While large crowds look good in photographs, the reality is most of those folks don't spend money in the stores on the streets being blocked, frustrating business owners paying taxes to the city while the city cuts off access

The solution is simple: keep these events going, but move their home bases and routes more evenly around town.

Harmodon Park and the Veteran's Parkway would be a wonderful location to host an event. The Sherman Park/Great Plains Zoo, and the newly created Sanford Sports Complex should be considered. Maybe the University of Sioux Falls would allow the use of their new Sports Stadium. Great Bear Recreation Area might be a good spot.

At the very least consideration should be given to moving the time of street blockage until after church on Sunday.

Downtown is a beautiful place. We can all be proud of the changes which have made it vibrant again.

Having the area be the "go to place" to block streets for hours at a time many Sunday mornings is a burden on the thousands of people who live, attend church, and want to dine in that same location.