Lyon Park

Located off 14th and Phillips Ave is Lyon Park, named for W.H. Lyon and his wife Winona who donated the land to the city to be used for public enjoyment. The area was at one time called Gales Grove in honor of Artemas Gale who originally owned the land.  In the 1870’s Artemas took a wagon up to Lake Madison and harvested some cottonwood trees to transplant to his piece of land in Sioux Falls.  

If you visit the park today you will find several spots of historic interest including flower beds that were made to reflect the former foundation of the Lyon home. The home was built in 1881 by the Schaetzel family was bought by W.H. and Winona in 1904. Believe it or not the home still stands today, just no longer at the park, it was moved in the 1980’s. 

In 1928 when the Lyon’s donated the land to the city for a park it became the 9th park in the Sioux Falls Parks system. Its proximity to Downtown was an important part of why it was donated as the Lyon’s felt it was important to have a park near the principal business district. This park is one of several land gifts given by the Lyon family to the city.