McKennan Park is an established residential neighborhood south of downtown Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The area is centered around McKennan Park, one of the city's oldest developed public parks. Its surrounding streets feature historic homes, mature trees, sidewalks, and a traditional residential layout. Much of the neighborhood's development took place during the first half of the 20th century. Today, the area retains many of its original residential characteristics while providing access to schools, medical facilities, nearby commercial corridors, and downtown Sioux Falls.
Location and Neighborhood Character
McKennan Park is located in central Sioux Falls, south of downtown and near the Avera McKennan medical campus. The neighborhood takes its name from McKennan Park, located at 400 East 26th Street. Its recognizable residential streets include sections of East 21st Street, East 26th Street, South Second Avenue, South Fourth Avenue, and surrounding blocks. The landscaped East 21st Street boulevard is an important historical feature of the area.
Minnesota Avenue to the west and Cliff Avenue to the east provide access to surrounding commercial areas, healthcare facilities, and other parts of Sioux Falls. An important distinction is that the McKennan Park neighborhood, the neighborhood association's service area, and the designated McKennan Park Historic District have different boundaries. The official historic district covers specific properties and streets rather than the entire surrounding residential area.
Housing and Architectural Character
McKennan Park is particularly known for its early 20th-century housing. The historic district developed largely during the first half of the 20th century, although the surrounding neighborhood includes properties from other periods. Architectural styles represented in the area include Colonial Revival, Tudor Revival, Craftsman, and other traditional residential designs. Detached single-family homes are a prominent part of the neighborhood's housing stock.
Some properties retain original architectural details, including porches, brickwork, decorative trim, and established landscaping. Others have been renovated or modified over time. Housing condition, lot size, garage availability, and interior features vary from property to property.
Historic Preservation and Renovations
The McKennan Park Historic District is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is recognized in local historic preservation regulations. However, not every property in the broader neighborhood is part of the designated district. National Register listing by itself does not automatically prohibit private owners from changing their properties. Local zoning, historic preservation provisions, easements, and other applicable restrictions can create additional requirements.
The City’s Historic District Viewer identifies designated properties. For a renovation in the mapped district, the preservation page supplies a project application and rehabilitation standards; the neighborhood and preservation planner answers at 605-367-8889. Building Services separately handles building-permit questions at 605-367-8670. The City lists window replacement, re-siding, re-roofing, decks and remodeling among projects requiring a permit.
Historic District Viewer · Preservation application and planner · Building-permit examples and contacts
Schools and Education
McKennan Park is located near several public and private schools. Public school assignments within the Sioux Falls School District are based on residential addresses. Families should confirm attendance boundaries and transportation eligibility before choosing a home.
Public Schools
Susan B. Anthony Elementary School
2000 South Dakota Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD 57105 Susan B. Anthony is a public elementary school serving kindergarten through fifth grade. The school is located west of the central McKennan Park residential area.
2200 South Fifth Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD 57105 Patrick Henry serves grades 6–8 and offers middle school academic programs and extracurricular activities. The school is located near the eastern portion of the McKennan Park area.
2900 South Cliff Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD 57105 Lincoln High School serves grades 9–12 and offers academic courses, athletics, music, and other student programs. It is located southeast of McKennan Park along Cliff Avenue. These schools are geographically relevant to the neighborhood, but proximity does not guarantee enrollment. The Sioux Falls School District determines attendance assignments according to its current policies and address-based boundaries.
Families should consult the district's Busing and Boundary Information before relying on a particular school assignment.
Private Education
2001 South Fifth Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD 57105 St. Mary is part of the Bishop O'Gorman Catholic Schools system. It provides Catholic education from preschool through sixth grade. Admissions, tuition, school transportation, and program availability should be confirmed directly with the school.
Higher Education
The wider central Sioux Falls area also provides access to institutions such as Augustana University and the University of Sioux Falls. Additional postsecondary options, including Southeast Technical College, are located elsewhere in the city.
Parks and Outdoor Recreation
McKennan Park
McKennan Park is the neighborhood's primary public recreational space. Located at 400 East 26th Street, the park covers nearly 20 acres and has been part of Sioux Falls' park system since the early 1900s. The park was established following Helen McKennan's donation of land in 1906. Its facilities include:
McKennan Sunken Gardens and landscaped flower beds.
Playgrounds and open green spaces.
Tennis and basketball courts.
Horseshoe pits and shuffleboard courts.
A picnic shelter and public restrooms.
Walking paths and historical features.
An outdoor bandshell.
A seasonal children's wading pool.
Children's Wading Pool
McKennan Wading Pool at 1500 South Third Avenue is a free outdoor facility with a walking bridge and spray features. At the October 24, 2026 review, the City’s page says it is closed for the season. The daily park opening hours do not extend the pool’s swimming season.
Gardens and Community Events
The Sunken Gardens are one of the park's recognizable historic features. The park also hosts scheduled outdoor performances and community activities. The bandshell has been used for concerts, children's theater, and other seasonal cultural programming. Outside organized events, the park provides space for walking, playground activities, and outdoor recreation. Seasonal conditions can affect facility availability. Official park information is available from Sioux Falls Parks and Recreation.
Shopping and Everyday Services
Grocery Shopping
Sioux Falls Food Co+op at 410 West 18th Street sells groceries, household items and prepared food; membership is not required to shop. Regular hours are 7 a.m.–8 p.m. Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–8 p.m. Saturday and 8 a.m.–6 p.m. Sunday. The store answers 605-339-9506.
Healthcare and Medical Facilities
One of McKennan Park's most notable location advantages is its proximity to the Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center. The hospital's main address is 1325 South Cliff Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD 57105. It is part of the Avera Health system and serves Sioux Falls and the wider region. The medical campus provides emergency care, inpatient services, specialized medical departments, and access to associated clinics.
Additional healthcare services include physician practices, medical offices and the Avera McKennan campus pharmacy. The hospital is also a significant employment center.
Transportation and Accessibility
Roads
Two important corridors near the neighborhood are:
South Minnesota Avenue, which provides north-south connections to downtown and commercial areas.
South Cliff Avenue, which serves the eastern side of the neighborhood and the nearby medical campus.
Public Transportation
Public transportation is operated by Sioux Area Metro (SAM). Two bus routes are especially relevant to McKennan Park.
On Minnesota Avenue, the Blue Line’s outbound stops include Minnesota/21st and Minnesota/26th, both on the northwest corner. Trips back toward Downtown use Minnesota/22nd and Minnesota/27th, on the southeast and northeast corners respectively. The operator lists half-hourly service from 6 a.m.–8 p.m. and hourly Saturday service from 8 a.m.–5 p.m. The stop on the return trip may be at a different cross street.
Blue Line stops, directions and timetable
The Pink Line links Downtown, the Avera hospital area and Lincoln High School via East 20th Street and Cliff Avenue. Outbound it stops at 20th/7th Avenue by Avera ER and at Cliff/26th on the northwest corner. The Downtown-bound Cliff/26th stop is on the southeast corner. The route page lists half-hourly service from 7–8 a.m., then hourly service from 8 a.m.–5 p.m.; its timetable is the reference for an individual departure.
Community Life
McKennan Park has an active neighborhood organization, the Friends of McKennan Park Neighborhood Association. The organization was established to support the neighborhood's historical character, maintain community connections, and encourage resident involvement. Its activities reflect the neighborhood's long-standing association with the park and surrounding historic streets. The city also provides neighborhood planning resources, while community events and park programs offer opportunities for local participation.
Downtown Sioux Falls adds access to cultural and entertainment destinations, including the Washington Pavilion and other city-center venues.
Official Resources
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Additional sources
Practical service details updated October 24, 2026: preservation and permit contacts, transit stop directions, Food Co+op hours and the seasonal pool closure. School and historical references below remain from the October 22 review.