News Flash

View the 2026 Activity Guide and sign up online for sports, camps, swim lessons and more! Visit the Recreation page for more information and to register.

The Swinging Bridge is celebrating its 100th anniversary! As a way to honor the pivotal role that the bridge has played in the River Falls community for a century, the City of River Falls' Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) is collecting photos of the bridge through the years.

You are encouraged to upload any images you have of the bridge, whether it's a graduation photo, wedding photos, family days out, or just of the bridge itself. The HPC will assemble these photos to tell the story of the bridge at the upcoming Swinging Bridge 100 Year Celebration on May 9 at the Glen Park Pavillion between 2 and 5 p.m. Please use the link below to upload any images you want showcased as we honor the bridge and the role it's played in our city for the past century: https://forms.gle/VzQkAQwNJbV3Zasr9

Hoffman Park Campground reservations are now open online! Learn more about our campground and find the link to the reservation site here.

Camping is open April 15 until October 15 each year. (Water and dump station may open later or close earlier due to the weather.) There are 15 RV sites (electric hook-up only; up to about 43') and 5 tent sites on the grass (no electricity). Bathrooms, shower room, water to fill tanks, and dump station are available. Customers may check with camp host or contact the rec office for shower code. Sorry, campfires/fire pits are not provided or permitted.

Every March, the City of River Falls holds its annual State of the City Address, which provides an opportunity to look back at the past year and highlight the projects and accomplishments that took place in River Falls. The 2026 State of the City was held on Tuesday, March 3 at Tattersall Distilling and used LEGOs as the theme to tell the story. 

Tune into the audio from the event, which includes an introduction by Mayor Dan Toland, followed by the address from City Administrator Scot Simpson. Throughout the address, you’ll hear how City staff, councilmembers, our partners, and residents are all working together to build River Falls one brick at a time. 

Find the Kinni Cast wherever you listen to your podcasts, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Glen Park, Hoffman Park, and DeSanctis Park have shelter buildings that can now be reserved online here. If you need assistance, in-person reservations open the first Wednesday of each year.

Open-air shelters are only available April through October. Glover Station schoolhouse is only available May through September.

Beginning the week of July 21, trash and recycling collection for all River Falls residential customers will transition to Thursdays. There will no longer be pickups on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. 

This change is taking place to ensure consistency, accountability and reliability of drivers. For any questions about the change in service, contact WM at 888-960-0008. 

A reminder, garbage and recycling bins must be placed three feet apart and should be set out by 6 a.m. on the day of pick-up.

Read more about garbage and recycling pickup here.

River Falls, WI – The City of River Falls and the River Falls Rural Fire Association have signed a historic 20-year contract that will extend the City’s fire services to the Association’s service territory through the end of 2046.

The River Falls Fire Department has proudly provided service to neighboring rural communities for more than 50 years. Territories included in the agreement are the Town of River Falls, Town of Kinnickinnic, and portions of the Towns of Troy, Clifton, and Pleasant Valley.

“We are excited for this next chapter of our long-running partnership with the River Falls Rural Fire Association,” said River Falls City Administrator Scot Simpson. “We believe our continued work with the Rural Fire Association is an example of neighbors helping neighbors, and we are glad to keep providing essential services to many of the communities near River Falls.”

With the new contract, the City will continue to furnish fire protection services – which includes fire suppression, accident response, rescue, public education, and hazardous material release/spill response – to the Rural Fire Association’s territory. 

“The members of the River Falls Rural Fire Association are making this commitment due to the impressive service of our River Falls Fire Department volunteers,” said Joe Rohl, chair of the River Falls Rural Fire Association. “It will take a terrific effort to provide 35% of the cost of the new fire station, along with 35% funding of all budgeted operating expenses, but our member municipalities recognize the importance of funding this fire department for the long-term sustainability. We appreciate the city working with us to create a long-term solution and commitment.”

The City and the Association members began formalizing annual contracts in 1994, which included shared ownership of the vehicle fleet. When the City hired its first full-time fire chief in 2010, the two entities began establishing multi-year contracts. That was also the time when the shared equipment model shifted to one where the fleet was fully owned, operated, and maintained by the City.

The previous agreements renewed automatically for two-year periods from 2018 to 2026. The latest version of the agreement will take effect Jan. 1, 2027. 

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We’re excited to introduce Kinni Cast, an all-new podcast from the City of River Falls featuring real people with a real purpose. In each episode, you’ll hear from City employees about the work being done to make River Falls a better place. Learn about what projects they’re working on and what drives them to make a positive impact on the River Falls community. 

So if you’re curious about what’s next for River Falls and want a peek behind the scenes of City Hall, you’re in the right place. Subscribe to the Kinni Cast wherever you get your podcasts — including Apple Podcasts and Spotify — and join us for conversations that connect all of us in the River Falls community. New episodes will be released every other Wednesday, with the first episode debuting on July 30.

River Falls, WI – The City of River Falls has appointed Justin Wilson as its new chief of the River Falls Fire Department, effective May 19, 2025.

A longtime River Falls resident, Wilson has served as a volunteer firefighter with the RFFD since 2013. He most recently served as captain with the department, a position he’s held since 2019. 

“Having called River Falls home for the past 20 years, I've come to appreciate the wonderful community we have here. During my twelve years with the River Falls Fire Department, I've witnessed firsthand the unique bond and sense of family within our department,” Wilson said. “I'm eager to continue contributing to our department's leadership while working alongside our dedicated team to ensure the safety of our River Falls community.”

Wilson was part of a hiring process that included candidates from across the country. The River Falls Police and Fire Commission directed the hiring process and officially confirmed Wilson as the next Fire Chief on April 21.

As fire chief, Wilson is tasked with overseeing a department comprised of over 50 volunteer firefighters. He’ll work closely with City staff and will be instrumental in helping navigate the department through the upcoming $10 million investment in the fire station.

“We’re thrilled to have Justin serve as the next fire chief here with the City of River Falls,” said City Administrator Scot Simpson. “Justin knows this department well and has the respect of the fellow firefighters he has served alongside during his tenure with the River Falls Fire Department. I’m confident that he will be a great leader for our dedicated firefighters.” 

Wilson was named Firefighter of the Year in 2018, at which time, then-chief Scott Nelson noted Wilson’s leadership qualities and added that Wilson brought people together.

Prior to assuming the role as Fire Chief, Wilson worked as the Director of Professional Services at a software company based in Minneapolis. He earned an Associate of Arts and Sciences Degree in Fire Protection from Fox Valley Technical College in Appleton, Wis.

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Gov. Tony Evers visited the River Falls Public Library to honor multiple grant recipients

RIVER FALLS, Wis., October 7, 2024 – The River Falls Public Library was awarded $4,080,488 through the Flexible Facilities Program (FFP) to be used toward renovations of the current library facility.

To mark the occasion, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers toured the River Falls Public Library on Monday, Oct. 7 to hear from Library Director Tanya Misselt about the ways in which the funds would be used to improve the library. Gov. Evers was also joined in River Falls by other grant recipients from nearby communities.

"We are thrilled to receive this support," Misselt said. "It was an honor to welcome Gov. Evers to our library and showcase how we plan to put the funding to good use. This transformative investment will make the library more adaptable for various programs, enhance accessibility, and ensure its sustainability well into the future. The new design will create a more efficient space for both staff and patrons, equipped with state-of-the-art technology to improve internet access user experiences for our community."

The Flexible Facilities Program through the State of Wisconsin’s Department of Administration included a total of $107 million in funds available for grants. The maximum award amount was $4.25 million per project. Renovation or expansion of existing libraries was one of the projects eligible for the grant.

“On behalf of the library board and the River Falls Library Foundation and the incredible support that we’ve had from the city, we want to celebrate and make real some important changes for the library from this grant to bring us into the next 25 to 50 years of this library,” said Rebecca Ferguson, president of the River Falls Library board of trustees. 

The current library facility has been open since 1997 and underwent renovations in 2002 and 2008. The River Falls Public Library Board retained Baker Street Consulting Group in June of 2024 to conduct a feasibility study to provide insights and ideas on how to best proceed with the library’s renovation plans. The study is expected to be completed by October.

“As our community keeps growing, so does our need for resources like the library,” River Falls Mayor Dan Toland said. “For nearly 30 years, the current library has been an incredible resource for our residents. But to meet the needs of our growing community, the library will need updates. This grant will be a huge help – it’s going to make a real difference in bringing our library into the future.”

The River Falls Public Library is 32,850 square feet, including 23,850 square feet on the main level. It is located at 140 Union Street in River Falls, Wis.

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River Falls was again ranked as one of the top communities in the nation by the Department of Energy National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) for its participation and sales rates in green power programs. NREL has now recognized the city in the top 10 in 19 of the last 20 years.

The city ranked third with a 16% participation rate in 2023 out of the top 15 utilities throughout the country.

“As the case has been for years now, River Falls’ residents are being deservingly recognized for a dedication to renewable energy,” said Kevin Westhuis, utility director at River Falls Municipal Utilities. “It’s exciting to have so many people invested in reducing carbon emissions.”

NREL evaluated the renewable energy efforts of utilities in four categories and released lists of the top 15 utilities across the nation. NREL’s list for Green Power Participation Rates measures the percentage of customers who participated in a utility’s renewable or “green” energy programs. The Green Pricing Sales Rate ranks utilities by the same categories. 

Customers of River Falls Municipal Utilities rank third in the nation for their Green Power Participation Rate. The utility also ranked third with a Green Power Sales Rate of 9.39%, which increased from 8% in 2022.  

One of the utility’s most popular offerings, the Renewable Energy Block Program, helped the community obtain this participation recognition. The program allows customers to sign up to increase their monthly bill by a few dollars, ensuring their space is powered by renewable energy such as solar, wind and biogas. A typical home can run on clean energy with the purchase of two to three blocks, with one 300 kilowatt-hour (kWh) block costing $2 per month. 

Customers interested in participating in the Renewable Energy Block program are encouraged to contact the utility to sign up.

River Falls Municipal Utilities is a member of WPPI Energy, a not-for-profit joint action agency owned by the members it serves. WPPI Energy has set a target to become carbon neutral by 2050.

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River Falls Municipal Utilities

RFMU is the locally owned and operated electric, water/sewer, and wastewater utility, serving around 6,700 customers in River Falls. For more information visit rfmu.org. 

NREL

NREL is the U.S. Department of Energy's primary national laboratory for renewable energy and energy efficiency research and development. For more information visit nrel.gov.

The City of River Falls, Wisconsin received $1,401,000 in the federal appropriations legislation signed into law by President Biden on March 9, 2024. This funding, which was secured by Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-WI, 3), will support vital renovations at the River Falls Fire Station. 

In 2017, the City of River Falls commissioned feasibility studies to analyze the capacity needs and overall condition of the fire station, which was initially constructed in the 1950s. The studies concluded that significant portions of the structure were beyond their useful life and in need of replacement. 

The project is expected to include a partial demolition of the existing facility, construction of a new apparatus bay, and minor modifications to the remaining existing structure. The upgrades and added capacity will be essential to supporting the work of the nearly 50 members of the department. Design work is expected to begin this year. 

“We want to extend a heartfelt thank-you to Sen. Baldwin and Sen. Van Orden for prioritizing not just the safety of our community, but improving the working conditions of our dedicated department members,” Dan Toland, mayor, said. 

Federal funding for this project was secured by Sen. Baldwin and Rep. Van Orden in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024. Funding was explicitly directed to the City of River Falls through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Community Facilities Program. 

On Tuesday, Jan. 9, the City of River Falls received a $306,000 grant from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to help fund a two-mile multi-use recreation trail within the upcoming Mann Valley Corporate Park.

In September, the City began construction on the corporate park, located on the city’s western edge, which includes approximately 208 developable acres. The park will also include 10 acres of multi-family housing, 63 acres of conservancy, and 36 acres of outlots where roads and infrastructure will be located.  

The trail will run north to south across the corporate park, serving as a vital link between existing park space, planned multi-family housing, new corporate park tenants, designated conservancy areas, and future trail connections on the north end of the city.   “The multi-use path through Mann Valley has been a foundational part of the project since the beginning,” Economic Development Manager Keri Schreiner said. “While important to the future occupants of the corporate park, the trail will also serve as an important north-south recreation connection on the city’s western edge.”

The trail is consistent with infrastructure recommendations presented in the City of River Falls’ Kinnickinnic River Corridor Plan, Outdoor Recreation Plan, Bike and Pedestrian Plan, and Comprehensive Plan. 

Incorporated into the overall budget for Mann Valley Corporate Park, the multi-use path is currently estimated to cost $900,000. 

The City was awarded $191,760 for the trail through the Wisconsin DNR’s Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Grant in the summer of 2023. However, after additional funds became available, the State of Wisconsin Joint Committee on Finance offered an increased award, which now funds approximately one third of the project's total cost.

“River Falls is dynamic and growing – it is an exciting time for our great community,” Representative Shannon Zimmerman, who sits on the committee, said. “Mann Valley Corporate Park is a symbol of that progress. I was happy to advocate for River Falls to secure funding from the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Grant to enhance the experience in the park.”

We are thrilled to announce that River Falls Municipal Utilities (RFMU) has again received national honors for our energy efficiency and sustainability efforts! 💡🌳

RFMU has been named a Smart Energy Provider by the American Public Power Association (APPA) and has received recognition for its green energy efforts by the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).

NREL publishes annual rankings of the nation's top 10 utilities across four distinct categories associated with renewable energy. Based on 2022 data, RFMU placed second in the nation for Green Power Participation Rate, which measures the percentage of customers who participated in a utility’s renewable, or “green,” energy programs. Additionally, RFMU ranked third nationally for Green Power Sales Rate, indicating the proportion of a utility's renewable energy sales relative to its total sales.

Additionally, the utility’s 2022 Smart Energy Provider title marks the third consecutive occasion that RFMU has received the honor since the program began in 2019. The designation, which lasts for two years, recognizes locally owned utilities for demonstrating a commitment to and proficiency in energy efficiency, distributed generation, and environmental initiatives that support the goal of providing safe, reliable, low-cost, and sustainable electric service.

One of RFMU’s most popular renewable energy offerings, “Choose Renewable,” helped the community obtain its honors. The program allows customers to purchase green energy blocks for two dollars apiece per month, which increases the amount of renewable energy, such as solar, wind, and biogas, used to power their homes or businesses. A typical home can run on 100% clean energy with the purchase of two to three green blocks.