River's Edge Convention Center Parking Ramp Nearing Completion

The long-awaited downtown River’s Edge Convention Center parking ramp is nearing completion, and construction crews are working around the clock to complete the $11.56 million project in time for the Convention Center's busy season and holiday shoppers. The new parking ramp will increase parking capacity by 400 stalls and will provide easier accessibility for convention center guests, downtown employees, shoppers, and visitors. The parking ramp will straddle 5th Avenue North providing direct access to downtown businesses. When completed, the ramp will be five stories tall on the west side and three stories tall on the east side of 5th Avenue.

Governor Mark Dayton visited downtown St. Cloud in June 2014 to celebrate the fact that $11.56 million was allocated to expand the River’s Edge parking facilities and accommodate the community’s many visitors.

Construction began on November 16, 2015, and is expected to reach completion in October, making it a perfect addition just in time for holiday shoppers. Current downtown visitors have been using the Timber Lot and the Convention Center Surface lot as alternative parking. With the parking ramp nearing completion, it will greatly alleviate current parking and traffic congestion, adding 400 stalls and 155,040 square feet of space for downtown visitors.

In addition to the new parking ramp, the City of St. Cloud has additional projects that will help change the skyline of downtown St. Cloud. Other new projects coming to St. Cloud are the expansion of the Beaver Island Trail on the north side of the River’s Edge Convention Center, which will provide more recreational area, greater bike and walking trails, and The Lofts — a 47-condominium building that will add stylish and modern living options for downtown dwellers.

Downtown St. Cloud Has A Lot To Offer

The River’s Edge Convention Center is sitting in the best part of St. Cloud. Historic downtown St. Cloud has a lot more to offer than meets the eye.

Downtowns are becoming cool again throughout the country. City Centers may have lost some of their popularity in the 1980s and 90s, but they’ve come back in a big way in the 2010s.

Downtown meetings have become trendy at hotels and convention centers all around the country again. Convention centers and visitors bureaus throughout the United States help paint a vibrant and exciting picture of what meeting planners and attendees can experience downtown.

The River's Edge can easily accommodate events such as concerts, weddings, trade and consumer shows, conventions, and conferences for a wide array of businesses and group sizes.

The River's Edge offers more than 75,000 square feet of exhibit space along with 24-foot ceilings and easy on-grade load-in access.

The River’s Edge hosts conferences and trade shows throughout the week and on weekends and other events such as weddings, graduations, and proms. Entertainment is also part of what the River’s Edge offers, including sporting events like SCAR Dolls Roller Derby and concerts like Trampled By Turtles. But things aren’t just going on at the River’s Edge. There are plenty of other things to do in Downtown St. Cloud.

There are more than 40 food options in the downtown area. The options include gourmet, down-home buffet, family style, health-oriented, Asian and more. To see a list of St. Cloud’s downtown dining options, visit here.

We'd like to welcome 7 West Taphouse and JL Beers as the latest additions to downtown!

If you want to make a weekend out of it and stay in downtown St. Cloud for a few days because of a wedding, meeting or banquet, Downtown has plenty of  accommodations awaiting you.

The Arts District in Downtown St. Cloud is also very vibrant. The district offers a wide array of theater options, classes, clubs, galleries, shopping and more.

Speaking of shopping, you’ll find more than a few spots Downtown to find what you’re looking for - from specialty shops to department stores, to chic boutiques.

Maybe the best part of downtown St. Cloud is the nightlife. There are plenty of bars and restaurants to have a great time at while also seeing live music, comedians, theater and other entertainment.

So come and see what downtown St. Cloud has to offer you. We promise you won’t be disappointed.

To learn more, or to plan your next event at the River’s Edge Convention Center, call us at 320-255-7272 or visit our website.