The Impacts
In response to this devastation, in the weeks after the tragedy in June 1972, Mayor Don Barnett and the City Council ensured no citizen would ever have to return to living in the flood plain.
This resulted in a relocation plan, and Rapid City establishing one of the largest greenways in the nation. The greenway along Rapid Creek is filled with city parks, a beautiful bike path, golf courses, and hiking trails. The Rushmore Plaza Civic Center (now The Monument), the Journey Museum, a new Central High School, an expanded Meadowbrook Golf Course, the Executive Golf Course, Founders Park, the Roosevelt Ice Arena and Roosevelt Swim Center are among the facilities built in flooded areas that were cleared. Rapid City came together through great tragedy and created a safe and beautiful place for its citizens to call home.


Canyon Lake Park
Beautiful Canyon Lake Park looks more like a rock quarry after the flood removed the topsoil. The park once again provides a cool relief for Sunday picnics


Trailer Park Turned Soccer Field


Canyon Lake Dam
Giant trees fell victim to the rushing water. This view shows the area below the dam at Canyon Lake


Greenway
A short-lived housing area east of Storybook Island was devastated by floodwaters and is today part of the city’s greenway and floodway protection area.


Sioux Park
One of the cities premier parks now located where homes had been removed after the flood.


Meadowbrook Golf Course
Rapid Creek is now back in its banks, but the homes that are pictured are no longer there, in its place is now Meadowbrook Golf Course