Pierre and Sioux Falls scored well this year (2024) on a national ranking of livable communities. In A-A-R-P’s 2024 Livability Index, Pierre ranked 15th in small communities, and Sioux Falls ranked 14th in the large community category. The platform scores towns based on indicators like housing, transportation, environment and health. Pierre and Sioux Falls scored highest in the “opportunity” and “engagement” categories, which, Lindsey Holmquest with A-A-R-P South Dakota says are often underestimated. https://media-cdn.socastsrm.com/wordpress/wp-content/blogs.dir/2626/files/2024/11/livability1.mp3 “The piece that is often overlooked is that social connection piece. It’s important for people to feel connected to their community, their neighborhood, their neighbors, their service providers. The people that make up a place are just as important as the infrastructure.” Steve Watson is a partner at Teton Ridge Consulting and has helped communities across the state– including Fort Pierre– with development projects. He says whether a town made the list or not, the ranking system could be useful for city leaders, economic development organizations and city councils. https://media-cdn.socastsrm.com/wordpress/wp-content/blogs.dir/2626/files/2024/11/livability2.mp3 “I think it would be a really good framework to help ensure that the policies they’re creating, the investments they’re making, the decisions they’re making kind of tie back to these indicators.” Watson uses Fort Pierre’s Tatanka Trail, which is currently in the design stage, as an example. The plan includes a pedestrian bridge, plaza, outdoor exhibits and a walking/biking trail. The project has received federal funding through the American Rescue Plan.