Broadway Square

Updated June 11, 2025

## Broadway Square, Fargo: The New Heart of Downtown

Broadway Square is a compact half-acre city park and public plaza at 201 Broadway N in downtown Fargo, North Dakota. It sits at the base of the RDO Building (the city’s tallest tower) and was purpose-built as Fargo’s central gathering space, with programming managed by the Fargo Park District. Fargo

Opened in late 2020 as part of the Block 9 redevelopment, the square combines a performance stage, interactive water feature, artificial-turf lawn, and a seasonal ice rink. The design intentionally mirrors successful Midwestern civic squares: a place where you can skate in winter, cool off in splash fountains in summer, and find markets, live music, and festivals throughout the year. Confluence

Online reviews consistently highlight it as a highly rated attraction (around 4.7–4.8 out of 5 across Google and TripAdvisor as of mid-2025), with visitors mentioning “lots of people, vendors and things to do,” especially during events.

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## What Broadway Square Actually Is

### A programmed civic plaza, not just a “little park”

Broadway Square was conceived as an “expansive programmed community plaza” attached to the mixed-use RDO Building.
Key facts:

– Location: Corner of Broadway and 2nd Avenue N, right in downtown Fargo. Fargo
– Size: Roughly 21,000 square feet (just under half an acre). Confluence
– Operator: Programmed and managed by the Fargo Park District as a community gathering space.
– Design intent: To host frequent events and to break down barriers by intentionally creating equitable, inclusive opportunities for a wide range of people and groups. Fargo

The landscape architects built in stage infrastructure, power, lighting towers with speakers, and tech capacity so that the square could sustain heavy programming—from concerts and markets to film nights and fitness classes—without constant temporary setup. Confluence

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## Four-Season Use: How the Square Changes Through the Year

### Winter: SCHEELS Skating Rink & lights

In winter, the lawn area converts to the SCHEELS Skating Rink, framed by lighting towers and a seasonal holiday tree. Confluence

– The rink is described by local sources as a groomed outdoor ice-skating surface with an adjacent Skate Shack (warming and support building) that operates seasonally, generally December–March, weather permitting. Fargo
– A 2021 feature noted thousands of skaters used the rink in its first season and the space became a key winter social hub downtown. Monthly

Because ice seasons in North Dakota depend on conditions and budgets, exact dates, rental options, and fees can change each year. Always confirm current rink hours and policies on the Fargo Park District or Broadway Square website before relying on older descriptions.

### Summer: Splash pad, turf lawn, and markets

When the ice comes out, the same footprint becomes Leisure Lawn—an artificial-turf green surrounded by movable chairs and tables—and The Square Spouts, an interactive water feature/splash pad that runs roughly May–October. Fargo

Documented warm-season uses include:

– Splash play for kids and families at the Square Spouts on hot days. Fargo
– Markets and festivals, such as the Red River Market and themed night bazaars, highlighted in local coverage of the square’s early programming. Monthly
– Outdoor concerts, film nights, and chalk festivals, which have been part of previous event lineups. Monthly

These specific events can vary by year; they’re examples of what has been held in past seasons, not a guaranteed current schedule.

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## Amenities That Matter on the Ground

### Performance stage & infrastructure

A small bandshell/performance stage anchors one side of the square. It’s backed by permanent electrical, lighting, and sound infrastructure so that local organizations can run events without building everything from scratch each time. Confluence

For visitors, this means you’ll frequently encounter:

– Live music sets
– Movie nights projected in the square
– Cultural celebrations (for example, Somali Heritage and All Africa festivals, Juneteenth celebrations, and Pride-weekend programming have been listed among past events). Fargo

Again, these examples come from prior published event summaries; they illustrate the type of programming, not a fixed annual lineup.

### Leisure Lawn & seating

The Leisure Lawn is an artificial turf area aimed at casual use—lounging, picnicking, reading. Square guidelines specifically ask people not to drag café tables and chairs onto the turf to avoid damaging it, and to clean up after pets, with a small pet-care station on site. Fargo

Around the lawn you’ll find:

– Movable café-style tables and chairs
– Occasional thematic seating like vintage couches, mentioned by recent visitors during special events
– Shade from nearby buildings and umbrellas in some seating areas, based on visitor descriptions

### Little Free Library & inclusive programming

The square includes a Little Free Library that’s part of a broader “Reading in Color” initiative, stocked with a deliberately diverse range of books for adults and children. Fargo

Broadway Square’s operating principles, as laid out by the Downtown Community Partnership, emphasize:

– Actively seeking out and representing a wide range of community voices
– Creating equitable experiences and opportunities for all populations
– Using the square to spark conversations and collaboration across different groups Fargo

This isn’t just marketing language: past programming lists include events tied to different cultural communities, local startups, wellness organizations, and non-profits, showing a mix beyond standard “summer concert series.” Fargo

### Basic visitor facilities

From official amenity lists and operator descriptions, you can reliably expect: Fargo

– Public restrooms in the adjacent building
– An indoor water-bottle filling station
– Waste and recycling bins around the plaza
– Lighting and security cameras integrated into the tall light towers around the lawn and rink, designed as part of the original build for safety and evening use. Confluence

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## Events & Wellness Programs (And What Might Be Outdated)

Broadway Square is intentionally programmed many days of the year. Examples from recent seasons include:

– “Wellness at the Square” fitness series (yoga, Zumba, walking groups, XaBeat) hosted with local fitness partners; one 2023 schedule had classes multiple days per week from June through September.
– Red River Market, movies in the square, beer and cider festivals, chalk festivals, and business or conference events, as summarized by local magazines and the square’s own reporting of its early years. Monthly

These examples are year-specific:

– The numbers often quoted (e.g., “over 4,500 skaters since December 10, 2020” or “more than 4,000 visitors in a single week” during early operation) refer to the first winter season. Monthly
– The 2023 wellness schedule was valid for that summer only; current days, times, and even class formats may differ.

Because events are updated annually, treat any exact dates or weekly lineups you see in older articles as historical. For your trip, you should:

– Check the Fargo Parks / Broadway Square official pages for the latest calendar and any weather-related cancellations.
– Use recent social posts (Broadway Square’s Facebook/Instagram) to confirm this season’s recurring events and one-off festivals.

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## Practical Tips for Visiting Broadway Square

These tips stay within what’s directly supported by sources and typical Fargo conditions:

– Best use of the space: Visitors frequently describe Broadway Square as a good place to relax, people-watch, let kids play in the splash fountains, or attend evening events.
– Safety & atmosphere: Several recent reviews mention feeling comfortable there even later in the evening, citing good lighting and a positive atmosphere.
– Parking: At least one 2024 visitor noted that street parking immediately nearby can be limited and may require circling or walking a bit from another spot or ramp.
– Accessibility: The plaza surface is flat hardscape with ramps and open circulation; it was designed as a modern civic square, which generally supports wheelchair and stroller access. This is consistent with photographs and design descriptions, though you should verify specific accessibility features with the operator if they’re critical to your visit. Confluence

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## What’s Around Broadway Square

Without guessing specific opening hours or menus, we can state a few verifiable context details:

– Broadway Square is integrated into the RDO Building/Block 9 complex, which includes offices, a hotel (Jasper Hotel), restaurant, retail, and condos.
– The square is part of the Downtown Fargo district, with multiple shops, cafés, and restaurants in the immediate blocks, and it’s listed among central downtown attractions on tourism and travel-planning sites.

That means you can realistically plan Broadway Square as:

– A flexible stop between museums and the historic Fargo Theatre
– A meeting point before or after dining or shopping downtown
– A base if you’re staying at a nearby downtown hotel (several travel sites emphasize its central position and walkability).

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## Key Takeaways (With Data Caveats)

– Broadway Square is a modern half-acre civic plaza in the middle of downtown Fargo, built as part of the RDO Building/Block 9 development and opened around late 2020. Group
– It offers seasonal transformations: ice rink and holiday programming in winter; splash pad, turf lawn, markets, and events in warmer months. Confluence
– The space is deliberately inclusive and community-oriented, with programming aimed at representing a broad range of local groups and cultures. Fargo
– Review data from multiple platforms through mid-2025 indicate consistently high visitor satisfaction (roughly 4.7–4.8/5).

Key Highlights

• Central fountain and seasonal water features
• Public art and sculptures
• Flexible seating and open plaza for events
• Year-round programming (concerts, holiday events, markets)
• Adjacent cafes, restaurants and direct access to downtown amenities

Location

Places to Stay Near Broadway Square"Lots of people, vendors and things to do."

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