Written collaboratively by Kellie Kolb and Jeremiah Bergstrom, SDSU School of Design.
South Dakota communities are taking bold steps toward a more vibrant future through an initiative led by SDSU Extension and the South Dakota State University School of Design. Now going into its second year, Healthy Landscapes Healthy Communities (HLHC) provides communities across the state with an opportunity to envision vibrant public spaces through an engaged planning and design effort. Subsequently strengthening local leadership and fostering community-driven change.
Looking back
During the first year of the project, initiated in Summer 2024 and concluded in June of 2025, the HLHC Initiative successfully worked with three communities, Aberdeen, Dupree, and Wessington Springs. Project teams were comprised of an SDSU Extension Staff member, a School of Design faculty member and undergraduate students, who were guided by local stakeholders. The outcomes of each collaboration include an action plan and visioning ideas that can inspire a community’s revitalization strategy.
Aberdeen
In collaboration with Aberdeen Downtown Association the project team consisting of students from South Dakota State University (SDSU) School of Design participated in a downtown revitalization project as part of an academic assignment and tasked with exploring opportunities to reimagine Downtown Aberdeen in new ways. Students were organized into small collaborative teams. Students conducted on-site inventory and analysis, documented existing conditions, and held discussions with local representatives to better understand the goals and expectations for the downtown area. Each student team developed and proposed a design concept for reimagining the downtown core. Through a guided conceptual exploration, a series of new downtown interventions were proposed that can inform actions and investments to improve and strengthen a sense of place for Downtown Aberdeen. Proposed elements included pedestrian streets, a tram system, pocket parks, alley beautification, welcome signage for Main Street, a pedestrian-oriented environment, a dog park, event spaces, bike paths, interactive alley walls, sports courts, and a drive-in theater. The final work product included seven visioning concepts developed by student teams with plans, perspective drawings, 3D simulations, and more for new attractions and infrastructure improvements in the Aberdeen downtown district.
Dupree
The project team met with local community champion, Una Howe, and completed an inventory and analysis of the community, photographing community resources and discussing issues and concerns as well as opportunities and visions for the future. Together, we discovered that Dupree’s town vision included connecting and providing safe pedestrian infrastructure to important elements and community assets throughout the town. Following presentation and discussions of ideas and concepts, the proposed pedestrian networks were revised and updated based on community input. The initiative developed a vision plan for Dupree that focuses on connecting community assets and providing safe pedestrian corridors. This evaluation of the community, the city’s infrastructure, and existing recreation and gathering centers provided guidance for actions and investments to improve and strengthen a sense of place for Dupree. A concept for an inviting open space attraction celebrating the ranching and rodeo heritage of Dupree was proposed. You can check out the design for Dupree Community Plaza in the team's video rendering.
Wessington Springs
This effort explored opportunities to develop and improve the Old Grade Trail as a community asset. Building on ideas and discussion shared at a community visioning workshop, the project team directed by Jeremiah Bergstrom, developed a series of concepts for community park improvements, trail and pedestrian connections throughout the community linking important historic and community cultural attractions, and visions for a highway rest stop and trail head for the historic “Old Grade Trail” that supports both horses and travelers. Through a thorough evaluation of the history and context of the trail, the city’s open spaces, and existing recreation and gathering centers, we proposed a vision plan with a 3D video to help community members visualize a new rest stop and trail head along Highway 34. This vision plan can then guide actions and investments to improve and strengthen a sense of place for Wessington Springs and put the community on a trajectory to be a key destination in South Dakota.
These successful partnerships have provided the communities with strong visual direction and a series of specific strategies that can inspire and support new ways of imagining resources and directing investments that support a healthy future.
One of the pilot communities, Wessington Springs, is already seeing measurable impacts from their involvement in this program. “We just recently received notification we are one of two communities in South Dakota who have been selected as the first participants in Travel South Dakota’s Destination Development Program, a new initiative designed to strengthen and expand tourism in rural communities in South Dakota,” commented Troy Duxbury. “Our work with the [SDSU Extension/SDSU School of Design] Healthy Landscapes Healthy Communities initiative was timely and contributed nicely to our application as much of the conceptualization process and rendering proved to be an important part of our grant submission.”
Moving Forward
Meeting with community leaders for the second year of Healthy Landscapes, Healthy Communities initiative was easier the second time around. “It all really started with the Energize! Conference this past year in Platte!” commented Jeremiah Bergstrom, Lecturer at South Dakota State University’s School of Design and program lead. “I am very grateful we were able to participate and have a resource table. We met so many great people at that event which led to our participants for this year’s project communities.”
Working alongside this year’s community champions and SDSU School of Design faculty and students will be SDSU Extension Community Vitality Field Specialists Chase Moon and Kara Harders and Family, Food and Wellness Program Assistant, Becky Beeson.
The three communities whose projects were selected to move forward in year two of the Healthy Landscapes, Healthy Communities program are the towns of Clark, Wagner, and White River.
Clark
Clark is a growing community with many competing needs for housing, business, and open space. The community is at a point where informed decisions are needed that can direct investments and organize new growth to ensure a strong and viable future. In addition, the community is eager to enhance the downtown commercial core by providing a welcoming visitor and customer experience. The project team will work closely with Clark to evaluate community growth opportunities and downtown revitalization investments.
Wagner
Excited to reclaim and update the city park after the completion of SD DOT roadway and infrastructure upgrades on Highway 46, this important community asset is a central gathering space for important community events and could better serve the community with design and program improvements. The project team will work closely with Wagner to reimagine the city park and evaluate walkability and connectivity.
White River
The community is eager to realize innovative ideas and opportunities for the city park and open spaces to improve the quality of life for residents. In addition, there is a need to evaluate and propose safe and accessible walking routes in the park and throughout the larger community.
“We are looking forward to our next step in making our community a better place for our residents and visitors,” shared Amy Lehman of White River. “Having just went through the Marketing Hometown America Program we as community members are primed for positive change!”
Amy Lehman and Bobbi Schmidt, White River Marketing Home Town America Community Champions both agreed each program their community has participated in with SDSU Extension Community Vitality has really set White River up for success and for the next step in their journey. “We cannot wait to see what is in store with Healthy Landscapes Healthy Communities!” Bobbi added, “Marketing Hometown America program was a great inspiration for us to get started!”
