The River Prairie project is a planned development on property owned by the city of Altoona located at the new intersection of U.S. Highway 53 and River Prairie Drive.

The project has been in the works for many years and has been publicly announced throughout those years, but it is now reaching a very visible stage. The actual construction stage of the project has now begun, according to council member Colleen Weber.

River Prairie will be a mixed-use development owned by the city of Altoona and has been carefully analyzed to make the best use of the property and fit the goals of the developers interested in spectacular sites while keeping the needs of the residents in mind.

The area is spilt into four quadrants and has been rezoned to mixed use zoning. Mixed use zoning will allow for both residential and commercial developments to be built in the same area.

According to Weber, many hours have been put into the development of strict guidelines for the area with a primary focus on being beneficial to the taxpayers of Altoona, promoting a more diverse economic base for the city, and advocating a connection to the river and natural beauty of the area.

Currently the only constructed development is the Estates at River Prairie, a housing development off 10th Street West.
The development opportunities include a town center, providing locations for retail and commercial development in a traditional main street atmosphere, and a town square, for high quality commercial and residential buildings.

Also in the River Prairie project will be the business core, which will provide a planned location for office and commercial development near main transportation routes. The River Prairie area is the main entry to the city and the new development.

The Riverfront Trail Corridor will offer a variety of recreational space and will make the most of the riverside location. The residential neighborhoods will provide locations for a variety of housing options. Currently there are 158 acres available for development in River Prairie.