Rapid City Comprehensive Plan: Questionnaire 2 Opportunities and Priorities

Introduction

Thank you for taking the time to participate in this second questionnaire for the Rapid City Comprehensive Plan update. This questionnaire builds on the valuable feedback we’ve already received from the community through the first set of Open Houses, community interviews, drop-in events and Questionnaire 1 results. This next phase we’re asking for your help to try and prioritizing specific community goals that the Plan should emphasize.

This survey is an opportunity to share your perspective on a wide range of topics, including housing, economic development, infrastructure, education, recreation, and more. By contributing your ideas and priorities, you’ll play an essential role in setting the direction for our City’s Comprehensive Plan goals and policies, 

For each question, please choose your top three choices.

Part 1: Element Questions

Question title

1. What are your top three priorities to improve the economy?

a. Attract more skilled workers by supporting higher education, providing affordable housing, and enhancing community amenities.
62%
f. Expand walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods close to job centers.
47%
b. Support the creation of higher-wage jobs by attracting more industries.
44%
d. Help existing businesses grow with resources and ongoing support.
34%
e. Upgrade infrastructure in key business areas.
29%
c. Boost business startups by reducing barriers, sharing resources, and offering incentives.
25%
h. Improve and expand the airport.
16%
Other
11%
g. Review regulations and ensure the language is easy to understand.
8%
Closed to responses | 455 Responses

Question title

2. What are your top three priorities to improve education?

g. Attract and retain teachers with better pay, benefits, and support.
76%
a. Improve school buildings and facilities using community funds.
40%
h. Support Rapid City graduate retention and student recruitment through better housing, jobs, and entertainment.
37%
e. Link schools and training programs with employers for job preparation.
37%
f. Expand learning opportunities for all ages.
28%
c. Share more resources between the City and schools.
23%
d. Explore options for repurposing or reuse of school facilities upon closures.
19%
b. Work with schools, colleges, and training programs to plan for things like student housing and campus improvements.
15%
Other
9%
Closed to responses | 441 Responses

Question title

3. What are your top three priorities to improve housing?

a. Develop a strategy to increase quality affordable housing development.
57%
d. Incentivize more variety in housing types to meet the needs of all life stages.
48%
b. Incentivize affordable housing development in existing neighborhoods.
36%
g. Promote mixed-use developments that blend housing with community spaces.
36%
c. Create guidelines to manage the growth of short-term rentals responsibly.
34%
f. Expand supportive housing programs for vulnerable people.
33%
e. Broaden housing programs beyond current funding sources.
15%
h. Preserve historic homes and support context-sensitive housing.
12%
Other
11%
Closed to responses | 432 Responses

Question title

4. What are your top three priorities to improve design and community character?

d. Encourage mixed-use developments that combine housing, retail, and office spaces to create walkable neighborhoods.
45%
f. Promote tree-lined streets and landscaped medians to improve comfort and walkability.
40%
h. Invest more in keeping public spaces and streets clean and attractive.
40%
c. Use more native plants in public spaces to reduce water use and maintenance.
39%
a. Create more vibrant and unique public spaces.
34%
g. Promote energy-efficiency in new buildings and renovations to support long-term cost savings.
32%
e. Preserve scenic views of the Black Hills by guiding building heights and designs.
28%
b. Establish standards to improve the design and appearance of the community's gateways and entrance corridors.
16%
Other
11%
Closed to responses | 424 Responses

Question title

5. What are your top three priorities to improve infrastructure?

e. Avoid scattered developments by making sure infrastructure is ready before approving new growth.
53%
g. Maintain and expand the City's water, sewer, and drainage systems to accommodate current and future growth.
48%
d. Ensure new developments meet high infrastructure standards and connect to existing systems.
41%
c. Coordinate utility and transportation projects for efficiency.
38%
a. Support compact growth and infill development to prepare for future infrastructure upgrades.
29%
h. Collaborate with Box Elder and Pennington City to share resources and address infrastructure needs.
29%
b. Prioritize roads and utilities in infill areas to attract investment.
28%
f. Expand internet and broadband access.
14%
Other
6%
Closed to responses | 414 Responses

Question title

6. What are your top three priorities to improve public services and facilities?

c. Support organizations that offer mental health treatment and rehabilitation programs.
58%
e. Improve healthcare services by attracting medical professionals and expanding services.
46%
b. Support emergency responders by positioning additional resources in growing areas of the City.
36%
d. Implement strategies to reduce waste and ease pressure on the landfill.
36%
a. Expand library resources to serve the community.
35%
g. Invest in energy efficiency, water conservation and waste reduction for City facilities.
32%
h. Improve the maintenance and energy efficiency of public buildings and spaces.
18%
f. Enhance the City's stormwater management and flood control systems.
14%
Other
7%
Closed to responses | 407 Responses

Question title

7. What are your top three priorities to improve connectivity and transportation?

a. Expand options for walking, biking, and public transit to make it easier to get around.
66%
e. Upgrade and maintain roads, bridges, and intersections to handle increased traffic.
49%
d. Expand bus services to meet the needs of a growing community.
39%
b. Ensure gaps in sidewalks, trails, and bike lanes are filled and new networks are included in new developments.
38%
h. Improve street lighting, signage, and safety features on trails and roadways.
31%
c. Improve pedestrian crossings near schools and busy areas.
24%
f. Improve bus shelters and transit stops to make public transit more comfortable and accessible.
20%
g. Develop transportation hubs where people can easily switch between buses, bikes, and cars.
19%
Other
5%
Closed to responses | 402 Responses

Question title

8. What are your top three priorities to improve recreation and open space?

d. Conserve open spaces, wildlife areas, and natural resources.
61%
a. Build more parks, trails, and recreation areas in growing and underserved neighborhoods.
51%
g. Expand and improve current recreation facilities to keep them in good condition.
45%
h. Continue protecting the floodplain and educate the community about its importance.
38%
e. Add more family-friendly spaces like dog parks, playgrounds, and gathering areas.
33%
b. Make parks and trails easier to use and more accessible.
19%
c. Invest in more sports facilities, like sports complexes, courts, and fields.
19%
f. Improve access to current parks and trails in underserved areas.
17%
Other
7%
Closed to responses | 400 Responses

Question title

9. What are your top three priorities to improve arts and culture?

a. Promote events and programs that bring energy to Downtown and support local businesses.
49%
e. Strengthen partnerships with local tribes, schools, and community groups.
46%
b. Create more opportunities for local artists to showcase their work and collaborate with the community.
42%
f. Incorporate additional art, culture, and educational elements into parks and public spaces.
35%
d. Further preserve cultural heritage like community traditions, art and cultural sites.
34%
g. Encourage more use of art and culture in urban design and redevelopment projects.
29%
c. Further protect and celebrate Rapid City's historic buildings and resources.
27%
h. Explore requiring new developments to either implement artistic structures or pay a fee-in-lieu to support community arts.
14%
Other
5%
Closed to responses | 384 Responses

Question title

10. What are your top three priorities to improve community engagement and regional coordination?

b. Collaborate with neighboring areas like Pennington City, Black Hawk, and Box Elder to plan land use and tackle common challenges.
50%
d. Partner with local groups to improve access to healthy, affordable food.
47%
f. Strengthen communication channels between City government and the public.
43%
g. Support efforts to reduce discrimination and promote inclusivity.
38%
a. Offer more engaging meeting events, workshops, and online forums for easier participation.
30%
h. Expand outreach to underserved communities.
28%
e. Make City operations more efficient through new technology.
27%
c. Encourage more proactive community involvement in safety efforts.
19%
Other
6%
Closed to responses | 393 Responses

Part 2: Demographics Section

The demographic section of this questionnaire is intended to help us understand who we are hearing from and where further outreach efforts are needed. This information is not shared outside of this process and is used as a gauge to help ensure equitable representation.  

For any questions that you do not feel comfortable answering, feel free to choose “I prefer not to answer."

Question title

1. What is your name and email?
(Optional: Please provide if you would like project updates)

Question title

2. Where in Rapid City do you live?
Please provide your closest cross streets or neighborhood name.

Question title

What is your age?

Under 18
18-25
26-35
36-45
46-55
56-65
66-75
Over 75
Prefer not to answer
Closed to responses

Question title

What is your race/ethnicity?

White
Black or African-American
Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish
Asian
American Indian or Alaska Native
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
Other
I prefer not to answer
Closed to responses