Projects

River Learning Center

The Saint Paul River Learning Center, with proposed National Park Service Mississippi River Regional Headquarters, will serve as the gateway to the Mississippi River, welcoming residents and visitors to this national feature with four-season programming that honors, promotes stewardship of, and teaches the culture, history, and ecology of the river.

The River Learning Center project was recommended as a part of the Great River Passage Master Plan. The City and its partners have completed technical and feasibility studies and are in the process of determining whether they will proceed with the project. If the City decides to move forward, staff will begin the design process. This will include engaging the public to determine what the River Learning Center will look like, what programming will be offered at the site, and more.

Current supporters

  • Great River Passage Initiative
  • Saint Paul Parks and Recreation
  • National Park Service
  • Mississippi Park Connection
  • Friends of the Mississippi River
  • Capital Region Watershed District
  • Wilderness Inquiry

Saint Paul River Balcony

The River Balcony is a proposed project spanning the full 1.5 miles of downtown Saint Paul’s Mississippi River bluff. The project is envisioned as a publicly accessible bluff-edge experience connecting public spaces and bluff-side redevelopment sites from Eagle Street and the Upper Landing Park along Kellogg Boulevard to Sibley and the Lower Landing Park. The project is expected to enter schematic design in spring 2019.

Current supporters

  • Great River Passage Initiative
  • Ramsey County
  • Metropolitan Council
  • Saint Paul RiverCentre
  • Visit Saint Paul
  • Ever-Green Energy

East Side River District

Saint Paul’s East Side connects to the Mississippi River on the south and west and along the bluffs to the east and north. This area of the river – the East Side River District – has many shared uses, including Dakota homeland and sacred sites, industry, parks and recreation, and natural areas that support bird migration.

To enhance and better connect the area with the rest of the city and region, the Great River Passage is partnering with state, local and tribal governments, businesses, and nonprofits to create a world-class vision for the East Side River District and a public landscape that everyone can enjoy. This partnership provides a unique opportunity for organizations and institutions to work collaboratively through a comprehensive, integrated design process to create an East Side River District Vision that will reveal, heal, connect, and protect the area.

Current supporters

  • City of Saint Paul
  • Great River Passage Initiative
  • Metropolitan Council
  • Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
  • Minnesota Indian Affairs Council
  • Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
  • National Park Service
  • Ramsey County
  • Lower Phalen Creek Project