Downtown Sioux City park proposal hits a road block

SIOUX CITY (KTIV) - A project four years in the making at a church in downtown Sioux City is close to crossing its final hurdle in beginning construction.

Shepherd's Garden, a park proposed for the lot adjacent to the First Presbyterian Church at sixth and Nebraska, is about 20 thousand dollars away from hitting their 850 thousand dollar fundraising goal, but they're sitting with hands tied at the moment.

But what may look like a broken down concrete lot is much more, according to those with big plans for the open space.

"Something needs to be done with the lot. We have a need between Mercy Medical Center and the church. One very appropriate use for that lot would be to have this contemplative garden," Bill Stoneburg, Shepherd's Garden board member.

And a group of people in Sioux City intend to make the empty lot at 6th and Jackson street just that.

"Someone could go freely from the hospital or anywhere downtown, they could have lunch, just a quiet beautiful green spot," Stoneburg said.

The ball started rolling on Shepherd's Garden park back in 2010. Now, four years and 830 thousand dollars later, the empty lot has had some contracting work done, and is ready for the final steps in the makeover.

"Going back to June of 2010, this has all been done with donations. Everything that we've done has been paid for," Stoneburg said.

But construction may not start as soon as the Shepherd's Garden board originally thought.

"We're in a bit of a delay pattern," Stoneburg said.

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Downtown Sioux City park proposal hits a road block