MISSISSIPPI RIVER LEARNING CENTER

Experience the Land + Water + Culture of the Mississippi River

The combined River Learning Center and proposed National Park Service Headquarters and Visitor Center will be a one-of-a-kind national hub of Mississippi River-focused recreation, education and environmental stewardship.

Location

Located at the Watergate Marina site at Crosby Farm Regional Park, the River Learning Center will transform this currently isolated area into an easy-to-reach hub that strengthens the community’s connection to an incredible natural resource and fosters generations of park users and river stewards.

Creating a River Center

The Twin Cities stretch of the Mississippi is a national park, but today has few spots to safely access the river. With its two sheltered bays opening up the river in new ways to thousands of local and national visitors, the River Learning Center will be the gateway to the Mississippi. Some of the proposed features include a Sam Morgan Trailhead on the bluff, River Learning Center building, boathouse for kayak and canoe rental, and a canopy walk for access from the bluff to floodplain.

Project Design

The City of Saint Paul and Great River Passage Conservancy, in partnership with Mississippi Park Connection and the National Park Service, will lead the next phase of design with the architecture firm VJAA and landscape architects at TEN x TEN. This phase will be a continuation of schematic design and includes completing design and construction documents, building on the schematic design and furthering the programming and engagement progress completed on the project to date.

Stay connected with us to receive updates as the project continues to move forward!

Funders

State of Minnesota
Capitol Region Watershed District
Sandy Fuller
Mississippi Park Connection
Shepard Family Fund
W. Second Growth Foundation
Wilderness Inquiry