Midwest - St. Croix River Valley

Public Wealth across the St. Croix River Valley region comes to life in the way communities, parks, and river landscapes work together as a shared asset for both Wisconsin and Minnesota. From cities to small towns, this stretch of river and the surrounding area is a living example of how public spaces, history, and natural areas create everyday value for residents and visitors.

The St. Croix River Valley Region as “Public Wealth”

The St. Croix National Scenic Riverway protects 255 miles of the free-flowing St. Croix River and Namekagon Rivers, a federally designated corridor known for its clear water, diverse ecosystems, and abundant recreation, flowing from northern Wisconsin to the Mississippi River. This was one of the first rivers protected under the National Wild & Scenic Rivers Act (1968).

On both sides of the river, communities invest in parks, trails, river access, and historic districts that are free or low-cost to enjoy. State parks such as:

• Interstate State Park (MN/WI) and Wild River State Park further north – preserving scenic bluffs, glacial features, and long stretches of riverway.

• William O’Brien State Park and Afton State Park in Washington County, MN – protecting rolling wooded hills along the St. Croix, with hiking, camping, and excellent canoeing and fishing opportunities.

• Kinnickinnic State Park in Pierce County, WI – at the confluence of the Kinnickinnic and St. Croix rivers, combining quiet interior valleys with busy river recreation.

• Willow River State Park in St. Croix County, WI-- nearly 3,000 acre state park featuring Willow Falls and a waterfall plunging into a 200-foot gorge.

  
  

These parks are part of the region’s “public asset balance sheet”: protected land, clean water, wildlife habitat, and outdoor recreation that support health, tourism, and local identity.

County parks deepen that public wealth at a more local scale:

• St. Croix Bluffs Regional Park in Washington County, MN – about 580+ acres on the wild and scenic St. Croix, with bluffs, wooded ravines, camping, and direct river access.

• Square Lake Park nearby – known for exceptionally clear water that attracts swimmers and scuba divers from across the metro.

• Homestead Parklands on Perch Lake in St. Croix County, WI – with trails, a non-motorized boat launch, rentals, swimming beach, and winter recreation.

  
  

Together, these places with other state, county, and town parks create a network of public lakes, forests, trails, and campgrounds that make the St. Croix Valley an outdoor commons rather than a private, gated landscape.

St. Croix River Valley Regional Flyover (Google Earth)

Note: Aerial view (experience is best for website vs. mobile)

Flyover

Stillwater, Minnesota: a focal point of public wealth

Stillwater sits on the west bank of the St. Croix River and is often called the “Birthplace of Minnesota,” because an 1848 territorial convention held downtown helped start the process of creating the state.

Key public-wealth highlights in and around Stillwater:

• Historic downtown and riverfront – one of Minnesota’s oldest towns, with a preserved main street, riverwalk, and public viewpoints that anchor tourism and local small businesses.

• The Stillwater Lift Bridge, built in 1931 and now on the National Register of Historic Places, has been converted from a highway bridge to a pedestrian–bicycle connection as part of a loop trail that links Minnesota and Wisconsin along the river.

In Stillwater, public wealth shows up in the historic fabric of the city, the river as a shared public resource, and the network of parks and trails that connect people to the landscape.

Stillwater Flyover (Google Earth)

Flyover

Osceola, Wisconsin: A Plan for Community Public Wealth is on the Horizon

Osceola, WI, is a historic village in the scenic St. Croix River Valley, near the Wisconsin and Minnesota border, known for its small-town charm, historic downtown on the National Register, and abundant outdoor recreation, with attractions like Cascade Falls, hiking trails, and a heritage railroad. Founded in 1844 as a logging and mill town, the community is a blend of small-town living with access to city amenities.

To learn more about community public wealth initiatives in flight in Osceola-- please visit the link below.

Community Public Wealth - Osceola, WI

Why this matters for Public Wealth

Looking at the St. Croix communities through a public-wealth lens highlights:

• Natural capital – protected river corridors, clean lakes like Square Lake, trout streams, and semi-wilderness in county parks.

• Civic and cultural capital – Stillwater’s role in Minnesota’s founding, the preserved lift bridge, and historic downtowns that tell the story of the valley.

• Recreational and health value – year-round opportunities to hike, paddle, ski, camp, fish, and simply walk along the river in public spaces rather than private enclaves.

  
  

Taken together, the Wisconsin and Minnesota communities along the St. Croix River demonstrate how public assets—state parks, county parks, regional trails, historic structures, and riverfronts—form a shared portfolio of public wealth that underpins quality of life, local economies, and a strong sense of place on both sides of the river.

Note: Content summarized with assistance from ChatGPT. ChatGPT can make mistakes-- check important information.