About the Gardens
The Riverside International Friendship Gardens are a collection of public gardens nestled within La Crosse’s beautiful Riverside Park, in a stunning setting where the Mississippi, Black, and La Crosse rivers converge. Each garden celebrates one of La Crosse’s sister-city relationships, honoring the traditions of communities in China, Germany, France, Russia, Norway, Ireland, Cameroon, and the Ho-Chunk Nation, through plants, sculptures, architecture, and water features drawn from each culture.
More than a place to enjoy flowers, the Gardens are a living monument to peace, friendship, and our shared appreciation for the many cultures around the world. Whether you come to stroll, take photos, watch the koi, or simply find a quiet moment by the river, we’re glad you’re here.
A Unique Partnership
The Friendship Gardens exist thanks to a unique public-private partnership between the City of La Crosse and the nonprofit organization Riverside International Friendship Gardens.
The City of La Crosse Parks Department provides the land, technical resources, and maintenance expertise. The Riverside International Friendship Gardens Board of Directors provides overall direction and fundraising; leads the design, education, and horticulture; and guides the volunteers who plant and care for the gardens throughout the season.
Together, and with the help of many volunteers and donors, this partnership has created a place of beauty that belongs to the whole community.
Gardens
Cameroon Garden (Sistern City: Kumbo, Cameroon)
This garden celebrates La Crosse’s sister city of Kumbo, extending the circle of friendship to central Africa.
Chinese Garden (Sister City: Luoyang, China)
The Chinese garden honors La Crosse’s sister city of Luoyang, a city famed for its peonies. It welcomes visitors with the graceful forms, plantings, and details characteristic of a classical Chinese garden.
French Garden (Sister City: Épinal, France)
Modeled after a formal French garden, this space celebrates sister city Épinal on the banks of the Moselle. It features a rose garden, knot-shaped topiaries, and a miniature replica of Épinal’s beloved Pinau statue, a child removing a thorn from his foot.
German Garden (Sister City: Friedberg, Germany)
Inspired by sister city Friedberg, this garden reflects the tidy, structured beauty of a traditional German garden, a nod to the strong ties between our two communities.
Ho-Chunk Garden (In honor of the Ho-Chunk Nation)
Created in 2026 in collaboration with the Ho-Chunk Nation, this garden honors the people native to this land. At its heart stands a bronze sculpture of Betsy Thunder, a Ho-Chunk healer who cared for both native peoples and early settlers, a fitting symbol of community, friendship, and healing.
Irish Garden (Sister City: Bantry, Ireland)
Take a seat in the riverside amphitheater and look west across the meeting of the Mississippi, Black, and La Crosse rivers. This garden honors sister city Bantry, a deep-water port on Ireland’s southwestern coast.
Norwegian Garden (Sister City: Førde, Norway)
Enter beneath a beautiful sod roof, a tribute to the turf roofs once common across Norway. The garden evokes the waterfalls and folklore of the region near sister city Førde, along with hardy roses and berry plants typical of a Norwegian farmstead.
Russian Garden (Sister City: Dubna, Russia)
Designed in the informal, naturalized style of a Russian garden, with trees arranged in groves, this space features a lovely besedka, a garden pavilion modeled after one along the Volga River in sister city Dubna.
Garden Features
- A beautiful riverside setting where the Mississippi, Black, and La Crosse rivers meet
- Eight gardens celebrating La Crosse’s international sister cities and the Ho-Chunk Nation
- A large variety of flowers, trees, and shrubs
- Easy access and wheelchair accessible
- Parking immediately adjacent to the gardens
- Leashed, well-supervised dogs welcome (please stay on the paths)
- Open daily, 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., free to all
Scavenger Hunt
Bring the kids and explore! Our printable scavenger hunt maps are a favorite with young visitors, and every item can be spotted right from the garden pathways. Simply download and print a map before your visit.
We ask all visitors to stay on the paths so our plantings stay healthy and beautiful. Thank you, and have fun!
Download a scavenger hunt map: All Gardens China Germany Norway France Russia Ireland
Visit Us
The Gardens are located in Riverside Park in downtown La Crosse, just east of the La Crosse Convention & Visitors Bureau.
