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[ Black Hills Photo Gallery - Rapid City - Formal Gardens ]
During 1972, Rapid City was hit with a devistating flood. Several inches of rain fell in a very short period of time. The stress of the increased flow of Rapid Creek caused the urban dam to break draining Canyon Lake into Rapid Creek. The rush of the water picked up buildings and homes and carried them until they hit other obstructions. Some were even stopped by bridges causing artificial dams to be built extending the damage behind. Over 200 people perished during the flood. The result of the flood changed the layout of Rapid City forever. An early warning system was installed upstream along Rapid Creek that still remains active today. Memorial Park, pictured below, was constructed to remember those who perished during the flood, and the city enacted an policies that has prevented much of the area along the creek to never be redeveloped. This has resulted in acres of beautiful green space, parks, and formal gardens to be located along the path of the creek. The formal gardens contain tens of thousands of annuals are planted in these gardens every year, and many of the gardens contain perennial gardens as well. The parks offer residents and visitors a chance to have a picnic, take a stroll, or just get out and enjoy the outdoors. The pictures of these gardens are organized according to their location in Rapid City starting from the west and working toward the east.
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