Rapid City's bike path system has a new name: The Leonard 'Swanny' Swanson Memorial Pathway.

As expected, the city council unanimously approved a resolution on Monday naming the bike path after Swanson, and recognizing his post-flood leadership in the rebuilding effort.

Swanson, "Swanny" to his friends, died in April. He was public works director for Rapid City during the flood and was Urban Renewal Director for several years after the flood. He retired in 1987 after 34 years with the city.

Former Mayor Don Barnett often credits Swanson's passion about preventing future loss of life for the city's decision to prevent rebuilding in the flood plain; Swanson called it the "suicidal floodplain."

The city's resolution naming the bike path after Swanson recognizes Swanny's role in leading efforts to maintain the floodway as open space for public safety, and in creating a five-block wide, 6-mile long recreational greenway and pathway heavily used by the public for biking, jogging and other recreational activities.

Alderwoman Karen Gundersen Olson, fighting her emotions, talked about her family's experience with the flood and said she "couldn't be more grateful" for the things Swanson did to help her family and other families recover after losing homes.

"While the price was high, we have one of the most wonderful assets to our community, which is the greenway," she said. "It's a joy to know Leonard will be eternally remembered."

Swanson was named urban renewal director after the flood and oversaw the city's recovery program.

The 1972 federal disaster recovery act included money for hurricane victims in Pennsylvania, and it provided Rapid City $48 million for its urban renewal program.

The program included financial help for survivors and helped the city buy out 1,500 homes and 150 businesses to create the greenway, which was designed to give future floodwaters room to flow without the tragic impact of 1972.

Over about five years, the urban renewal program offered property owners 30-year loans at 1 percent interest. Many people still had existing mortgages, but the low interest rate allowed people in many cases to add the cost of another home loan without increasing their total monthly mortgage payment.

The total federal investment in the recovery eventually topped $170 million. Adjusted for inflation, the recovery would cost about $843 million.

But telling people they couldn't rebuild was not a job Swanson relished.

In news stories published in later years, Swanson still got tears in his eyes when describing times he had to tell a homeowner she couldn't stay in her home despite emotional pleas to stay.

Mayor Alan Hanks said it is "absolutely fitting" to name the bike path after Swanson.

"As a 12-year-old, I remember the devastation. It absolutely amazes me the vision a man can have to create something out of that disaster," Hanks said. "Because of Leonard Swanson's leadership, we have an asset like no other."

Jerry Wright, landfill superintendent, who knew Swanson and worked with him as a public works department employee, called Swanson a "wonderful man." Wright said Swanny cared so much about the community, he carried a shovel and pick in back of his vehicle in case he saw something needed to be taken care of on his way home from work.

Swanny's son, Steve Swanson, thanked the city council and people of Rapid City for supporting the proposal.

"I know Dad would consider it quite an honor. Dad cared a lot about the greenway, and I can't think of a better honor," Swanson said.

Eventually, signs denoting the Swanson pathway will be erected at various trailheads.

Jerry Cole, parks and recreation director, said the department is working on a new sign system for the trails that will also include maps to help people navigate the system. Cole said it may take up to a year to design and put in place the new signs.

Contact Scott Aust at 394-8415 or scott.aust@rapidcityjournal.com