Everything You Need to Know about Riverside Park

Sharing is caring!

Riverside Regional Park in St. Cloud Minnesota offers just about everything! Play equipment, Tennis, Volleyball, Sledding, Cross Country Ski Trails, Horseshoes, Splash Pad and so much more! Located along the banks of the Mississippi it’s a hot spot of activities and events all year long!

Address: 1725 Killian Boulevard, St. Cloud, MN

Hours: 6:00 am – 10:00 pm Daily

Website: http://mn-stcloud.civicplus.com/facilities/Facility/Details/25

Cost: Free

Bathrooms: Yes!  Multiple Stalls, Handicap Accessible, Manual Flush Toilets, Diaper Changing Station!

Riverside Regional Park, also called Riverside Park, is one of the main large city parks St. Cloud, MN has to offer. It’s located just across the river from St. Cloud State University campus and football field.

It was the first park we became familiar with when we moved here and a favorite of my husbands as a child.

Riverside Regional Park offers just about everything you can image and if you don’t have a good time, then you’re clearly doing something wrong!

Cross Country Skiing:

Riverside Regional Park offers cross country skiing trails.  Bring your own skis or snow shoes and get out on a trail and explore the beauty that we call Winter. 

If you have children who are curious about Cross Country Skiing, then keep an eye open for the annual Sons of Norway Barnelopt event for children ages 3 – 13 years old.  Preregistration is appreciated, however you can sign up the day of as well, if available spots. 

Free skis will be available for use (limited supply) so don’t let that keep you from going!  There is also hot chocolate, cookies and a medal for every participant.  Hosted by the Minnesota Youth Ski Club, this event is a blast.  Check out the 2018 Facebook event to see how much fun it looks!  

Dam:

At the bottom of Riverside Park, is the Saint Cloud Dam.  Kids and adults of all ages love looking over the edge of the wall to see the Dam running at full capacity.  The St. Cloud Dam has two turbines and two generators capable of generating 8.86 megawatts of energy daily.  Wow! 

For those of us who love Google, that means that this Dam Produces more energy in ONE day than one home uses in ONE year.  An average home uses 7600 kilowatts of energy per year.  1 Megawatt = 1000 Kilowatts. This means the average home uses 7.6 Megawatts of energy in a year.  

Breaking it down even more, this means that over the course of the year, the St. Cloud Dam produces around 3,139,313.9 Megawatts of energy.  This energy is enough to keep 413 homes running on full power for a year.  Pretty impressive if you ask me!  

Disc Golf:

Disc Golf, also known as Frisbee Golf is something Saint Cloud is well known for.  There are multiple courses around the city and Riverside is one of the best.  The baskets along the course are available to use during Spring, Summer and part of Fall.

However before the weather turns to snow they are taken down and put away for the season.  There are 18 holes (or baskets) and the course can be challenging for someone new due to the hills all around.  This sport is popular among all and you may just find a pro or semi pro on the course with you so keep your eyes open!

Fishing:

One of the many beautiful parts of Riverside Regional Park is that it is right next to the river.  Though the park equipment and picnic pavilion is located at the top of the hill, a short drive or walk down the hill will bring you to the Mississippi River.  

Bring your own fishing equipment and fish the Mississippi River.  Please note that those 16 years and older will need a fishing permit.   I personally have never fished from the banks along Riverside Regional Park but have seen others doing it.  The city website does state that fishing is allowed at this park.

Park equipment: 

From slides, to swings and teeter totters to mini rock walls, your kids are sure to burn some energy! The play equipment is all located in the same general area and you can see all sections from one spot. 

This makes keeping an eye on your kids a breeze.  The bouncy planes and fire engine are favorites of my kids along with the varying height slides perfect for the littlest to the biggest kid.

Along with the fun toys, you can also find a horseshoe pit (close to the sledding hill) and one table perfect for chess or checkers!

Pavilion:

We’ve been to several events inside the pavilion and can tell you from experience it’s a large room with separate bathrooms, serving areas and kitchen.  Plenty of room for a work party, retirement party or even to celebrate an anniversary! 

Tables and seating are provided and a large wood fireplace is also available for use, though I believe you have to bring your own wood.

Picnic:

There are several grills for cooking on and picnic tables that can be moved around the park as needed.  There is even a large cooking grill with cover for when you need to cook for a crowd.  All grills are on a first come first serve basis and often times a group renting the pavilion will also use the large covered grill outside the pavilion. 

Sledding:

During the winter months, Riverside Regional Park offers one heck of a sledding hill!  This hill is plenty wide to allow 2 or 3 sledders down at the same time. So long as they have control over their sled! 

Thick wide mounds are built up along the edges, to keep sledders inside the designated hill at all times.  Once down at the bottom you can use those hills to climb back up or climb up on the outside of the designated area so as to not get in the way of those coming down.

The sledding hill is located to the left of the parking lot, while the play equipment is located to the right.  This hill is fun for all ages and there are some built in bumps along the way for a little extra fun!  We spent quite a bit of time at this hill last year and loved every moment!

Splash Pad:

Riverside Park Splash pad is one of the three splash pads found in St. Cloud.  Known as one of the smaller ones, it is nice because it’s perfect for smaller kids.  Located close to all the play equipment, it’s easy for kids switch from splash pad to play equipment.

Riverside Park splash pad offers a fun time for kids of all ages with park benches all around for less energetic adults. Generally Available Mid May – Mid September depending on weather.

Tennis Court:

Tennis Courts are located on the corner of Riverside Park along Killian Boulevard SE & University Drive SE.  Courts are first come, first serve and require you to bring your own equipment.

Volleyball:

According to the city website, volleyball is available at Riverside Park.  However, my mind is at a complete blank as to where they would be located during the summer months.  If you have any additional information on this, please let me know.

Sharing is caring!