The Award-Winning River Prairie Project is Successful Placemaking in Action

The beautiful Eau Claire River is a regional treasure – one the City of Altoona wanted to make more accessible to residents and visitors. When the highway was completed in 2006, it created an opportunity to showcase this natural asset and to use the river to attract more tourism to the area. Knowing this, city leaders began working on plans to create a destination that locals and their guests would want to spend time in. River Prairie is the result of those efforts. Regionally, River Prairie has put Altoona on the map. Simultaneously it has become part of the community’s fabric, making it even more fun to live in the Momentum West region.

River Prairie Was Designed for Everyone

When designing River Prairie, city leaders knew that they wanted a space that was appealing to everyone – young and old, families and singles, community members and visitors. They also had to design the space in a way that would work for businesses, residents and visitors. This required a great deal of research, planning and listening to the needs of the community. “The City had one unique opportunity to do something really fun that would impact generations. The Council leadership took that challenge seriously and approached the project with great thought and intent. We were able to create something really special for the community and have achieved that goal,” said Mike Golat, the City Administrator for Altoona.

Their goal was grand but so was everyone’s commitment to the project. Mayor Brenden Pratt, along with current and past council members and past mayors, were fully behind the initiative. This allowed Golat and his team – people like Roy Atkinson, a Management Analyst / Deputy City Clerk for Altoona, to design something incredible and to continue that work through the implementation of innovative programming.

“When we conceived River Prairie, we wanted to create a true mixed-use development. We have residential, retail, office and public amenities within the same quadrant. We followed the Project for Public Spaces principals. They have evaluated public spaces throughout the world to determine what makes them vibrant and active. They developed a system for building spaces that can be attractive and used by the community. We incorporated those principals into the design by providing a wide variety of things to do in a comfortable setting,” said Golat.

Some of those design elements include making River Prairie pet-centric so that furry friends are just as welcome as those walking on two legs. As for things to do, River Prairie has walking trails and gives visitors access to the stunning Eau Claire River – the perfect spot to slip a kayak into the river for an afternoon of fun before returning to relax at one of River Prairie’s restaurants. Children can have just as much fun exploring, by splashing around in the manmade river or playing on the splash pad or playground. Those who prefer a more leisurely afternoon can shop, enjoy a delicious meal, grab a drink with friends, view art in the park or listen to a live band.

In fact, music has become a defining attribute of River Prairie – something it is known for throughout the region. While the peaceful sounds of the river first inspired the site, now, the sounds of electric guitars and fiddles fill the air on warm summer evenings. The summer concert series Rock’n on the River and Kickin’ It Country draw 2,000 people each week to the Momentum West region, with some acts drawing over 4,000. Locals can spend the day and enjoy dinner and live music before heading home, while visitors can spend the weekend at Staybridge – the on-site hotel. These events, in addition to the weekly farmer’s market, May’s River Prairie Festival, fitness classes, and other performances have made Altoona a go-to destination for the community and people visiting from the Twin Cities.

River Prairie Serves the Business Community as Well

The business community has also benefited from River Prairie. In addition to incorporating office space, the River Prairie Event Center provides meeting and conference space in a beautiful setting. Plus, with thousands of people visiting to attend events, businesses located here benefit from increased foot traffic and exposure.

The Impact of Community-Based Development is High

The human impact is high, but so is the financial one. Financially, River Prairie has increased the tax base by $200 million – something that is likely to increase as more businesses and residents move into the area.

Still, River Prairie’s greatest impact has been to create connections between the community and the river, families and businesses, locals and visitors. It is a great connector because it was designed to create a sense of place – the type of place people want to visit and never leave.

Momentum West has awarded River Prairie the Top Project for 2018 award – an award that is well deserved.