Mayor Salamun, volunteers address controversy surrounding Bandshell Memorial Park fences

RAPID CITY, SD (KOTA) – The homeless population is one of the most vulnerable in the Rapid City community, especially during the winter months. A local group has been doing its part to help the homeless for almost six years, but recently became concerned about the place where they share meals being fenced off.

On Monday afternoon, Rapid City Mayor Jason Salamun held a press conference addressing the recent fencing controversy at the Memorial Park Bandshell. Community volunteers say they’ve been using the Bandshell for nearly six years as a location to hand out meals to the area’s homeless population, and believe the fence is an attempt by the city to stop the meals.

Salamun says the city never intended for the meals to stop and cited multiple health and safety concerns as the reason for the gate.

“They could have done a much better job of communicating and coordinating why Bandshell was secured and coordinating with those affected, especially those serving meals. Several times a week, they had to clean it from use. They had to clean up bodily fluids, blood, feces, vandalism, camping, assaults, intoxication and more,” Salamun said.

Salamun added that between 2023 and 2024 there were 777 calls for service reported by RCPD and 134 calls reported by Bandshell’s emergency management services. Concerned citizen Ranee Haglund said Salamun needs to be more involved in the community after comments she said she didn’t attend a food drive at the Bandshell this year because she heard they were inconsistent.

“I think you have your finger on the pulse of the community, especially the community that serves the most vulnerable. I would think that as mayor he will become more involved and aware and show up. Lend a hand and bring a plate of food,” Haglund said.

Haglund invited Salamun to participate in the upcoming food drive, to which Salamun did not respond, however, the mayor offered volunteers the opportunity to work with the city’s Parks Department to coordinate times to distribute meals at a reduced fee.

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