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Rapid City - Health & Wellness

Statistics on health and wellness are generally reported on a county basis. In Pennington County ranked 28th among 59 South Dakota counties scored on the basis of health outcomes in 2012, according to a collaborative project conducted by the Population Health Institute at the University of Wisconsin and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Pennington County ranked 41st among 59 counties on the basis of health factors. Based on comparing local information to state and national data, young people are especially at risk. The teen birth rate is higher than state and national averages, the graduation rate is lower, and more children live in poverty and in single parent households.

Regarding other segments of the population, there are also higher rates of risky behavior as indicated by a greater percentage of adults smoking. In addition, the incidence of sexually transmitted infections exceeds the state average and is over five times the national average. To compare Pennington County to other counties, go to: County Health Rankings: Mobilizing Action Toward Community Health. For more data related to the risks faced by young people in Pennington County, see data provided by Kids Count at the University of South Dakota.

Data from U.S. Department of Health & Human Services

County-level health statistics are also available from the U.S. Deparment of Health & Human Services. Compare Pennington County to similar counties in the United States and to the national median for the following subjects:

- Average life expectancy, all causes of death, self-rated health status, and average number of unhealthy days in the past month.

- Leading causes of death.

- Measures of birth and death. This data indicates that infant mortality and suicide rates in Pennington County are higher than in similar counties and in the nation as a whole.

Obesity

One in four people in the Rapid City metropolitan area is obese, according to estimates by the U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC). Another four out of ten are overweight. (According to the CDC, obseity correlates with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of over 30.0; overweight equals a BMI of more than 25.0)

West Nile Virus

Pennington County has traditionally had a high rate of infection from West Nile Virus during the summer months. For more on the disease, look at the West Nile Virus in South Dakota.

Sports & recreation

In 2010, Rapid City was named the #1 Best Town in America for hunters and fishermen by Outdoor Life magazine, largely because of its proximity to the national forest; although falling a little, it was still well-regarded at #3 for 2011.  The community was also named one of “50 Next Great Adventure Towns” by National Geographic Adventure magazine.

In Rapid City, anglers fish in Rapid Creek and Canyon Lake, which they share with paddle boats and canoes in summer. The city is defined by a 13-mile long bike path that winds through town along Rapid Creek. The greenway is a legacy of the 1972 flood that killed 238 people and destroyed homes along the creek. Community leaders have prevented development in the floodplain ever since, in memory of the lives and property lost to the flood.

Rapid City is home to 30 parks in addition to a recreation center and indoor ice rink, water parks, softball and baseball complexes, soccer complexes, golf courses, a disc golf course, a skateboard park, a “dirt jump” park, sand volleyball courts, tennis and racquetball courts, an outdoor track and two community gyms connected to local middle schools.

Community sports leagues are available for athletes of all ages, from pre-schoolers to senior citizens. Fans also cheer for teams from local middle schools, high schools, and universities, as well as two American Legion baseball teams: Post 22 and Post 320.

In the past 10 years Rapid City has ushered in a new sports era by building two city-owned hockey rinks and welcoming the Rapid City Rush. This Central Hockey League team, starting with the 2008-2009 season, has consistently drawn large crowds and introduced more Black Hills residents to the sport. The Rush won the league cup in its second season, 2009-10.

Main Street Square, a downtown Rapid City attraction featuring water fountains in summer and an outdoor ice-skating rink in winter, opened in October 2011.

When asked about the quality and availability of health care services in Rapid City, most residents put the community on par with other similar cities in the United States. When it is time to get outside, however, they are far more enthusiastic about their recreational opportunities. In a recent survey conducted for the city, residents rated city parks, recreation centers and facilities far ahead of their peers in other communities. They also said they get out to these facilities more frequently. To see how Rapid City residents grade their community, see the results of the community survey.

To get involved, check out these resources:

YMCA of Rapid City ---Youth and adult organization that provides recreation and cultural opportunities for the community. Summer 2012 Program Catalog--Activity guide for people of all ages.

Rapid City Parks and Recreation -- Program guide

Aquatics Division

  • Horace Mann Pool - 818 Anamosa Street, Rapid City   394-1891
  • Jimmy Hilton Municipal Pool - 940 Sheridan Lake Road, Rapid City  394-1894
  • Parkview Pool - 4221 Parkview Drive, Rapid City  394-1892
  • Rapid City Swim Center - 125 Waterloo Street, Rapid City  394-5223

Golf

Parks Division

Recreation Division

Bike Path Map  This is a map of Rapid City's bike path.  Included is a legend showing parks, sports complexes and other city supported recreational facilities in Rapid City.  The map also shows distances on the path going east and west from Memorial Park.

Park Amenities  This chart shows facilites and recreational opportunites availabe at each of the Rapid City Parks.