RAPID CITY, SD—South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden will headline a list of notable officials and celebrities attending next Tuesday’s official groundbreaking ceremony in Rapid City to add eight new courts to Rapid City’s Bocce Complex.
The event is scheduled for noon Tuesday at the outdoor complex at 215 Mount Rushmore Road. The event is hosted by the Rapid City Flame and Special Olympics South Dakota. In addition to Governor Rhoden, the event will also feature former NASCAR racing great Rusty Wallace, Buffalo Chip founder Rod Woodruff and Rapid City Mayor Jason Salamun.
In July 2023, officials dedicated the Rapid City Bocce Complex, an eight-court facility serving bocce players in Rapid City and the surrounding region. The project was a public-private partnership between the Rapid City Parks and Recreation Department and Special Olympics South Dakota-Rapid City Flame, transforming an empty lot into one of the premier regional locations to host tournaments, including the State Special Olympics Bocce Tournaments, as well as providing for residents and visitors to experience and participate in a sport that has been growing in popularity for several years.
Event organizers and supporters say next week’s groundbreaking ceremony helps pave the way to bring additional opportunities for the sport and participants in the community. The expansion of the complex is made possible through collaborations with the City of Rapid City, Rapid City’s Vision Funds, the Buffalo Chip’s Legends Ride, and the Buffalo Chip’s Rusty Wallace Ride.
In June, the Rapid City Council approved allocating more than $12 million in Vision Fund resources to 14 public projects as recommended by the Vision Fund Citizen Committee. Among the allocations is $950,000 for amenities at the Bocce Ball Complex, including restroom, lighting and landscaping.
The Bocce game involves players initially tossing a small white ball called a pallino (pronounced ‘pal-eeno’), followed by tossing bocce balls as close to the pallino as possible to earn points. The games are played on 12-foot by 60-foot courts and can feature games of single players against each other or two teams of two to four players each.
