Recreation, Parks and Open Space in SW Idaho

RECREATION, PARKS & OPEN

SPACE IN SW IDAHO

“WE ARE BLESSED”

WE HAVE AWESOME PARKS &

RECREATION AMENITIES IN

SW IDAHO

FROM CITY PARKS TO GREENBELTS TO WORLD-

CLASS RIVERS, MOUNTAINS, AND

CANYONS

WE’RE AN ACTIVE, FIT COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE IN

SW IDAHO. WE LIKE TO PLAY OUTSIDE.

My motto: It’s good for the heart, good for the soul, good for the mind, and it’s fun! So we like to play as often as possible…

WE WANT CLOSE ACCESS TO PARKS & RECREATION – AND OUR COMMUNITIES

REFLECT THAT.

LET’S TAKE A QUICK TOUR OF PARKS & REC. IN SW IDAHO – FOLLOWING

THE SEASONS

And see how it all adds up.

LET’S START WITH SPRING AND SUMMER

ACTIVITIES …

SPRING IS A TIME WHEN WE FLOCK TO OUR LOCAL PARKS

Local parks are a treasure in our communities

A place for rest and relaxation close to home

Pools and playgrounds for kids Ball fields for soccer, la crosse,

baseball and softball Open space for dogs and frisbee golf

CALDWELL PARKS & RECREATION

Caldwell has 13 parks serving a population of 46,000 people

Large parks with multiple ball fields for sports

Playgrounds for kids Swimming pools, walking paths

CALDWELL PARKS & RECREATION

Oregon Trail Centennial Greenway

3.2 miles along the Boise River

Connects to 17-acre Whittenberger Park

I call it the Caldwell Greenbelt – It’s in my “Boise Trail Guide”

CITY OF CALDWELL – INDIAN CR. DAYLIGHTING PROJECT

$13 million investment Creative financing

through multiple sources Expected to inspire

$90 million in economic development

NAMPA PARKS & RECREATION

Nampa has 25 parks serving a population of 82,000 people

Large parks with multiple ball fields for sports

Reservable shelters for events Playgrounds for kids Swimming pools, walking paths Even a 6-acre dog park


Wilson Creek Greenway – Nampa’s Greenbelt

Trailhead on Greenhurst or Iowa near hospital in South Nampa

Pathway follows Wilson Creek – scenic and pretty

5 miles round-trip


Nampa Rec Center

Serves 700,000 people per year

5 pools

Climbing wall

Weight room

Indoor track

Racquetball … among other things

MERIDIAN PARKS & RECREATION

Meridian has 20 parks serving a population 76,000 people

Meridian has big families, so they need lots of ball fields

Community pools and amphitheaters

New, 58-acre Julius Kleiner Park … cool park that has just about everything … fishing ponds, bocce ball and community garden

CITY OF MERIDIAN

Also has … Roaring Springs Water Park!

Hugely popular outdoor amenity More than 200,000 visit Roaring

Springs every summer

BOISE PARKS & RECREATION

Boise has 110 park sites serving a population of 210,000 people

1.3 million visitors per year Big parks and neighborhood

parks Community Centers $17M raised via impact fees for

new parks development since ‘93

BOISE RIVER GREENBELT 22-MILE PATH TIES PARKS TOGETHER


Two big parks coming online in the next year:

Maryanne Williams Park in E. Boise near Bown Crossing – 4 mile hiking and biking loop

Esther Simplot Park next to the Boise Whitewater Park


Our kids love to play sports in our communities, but adults do too!

In Boise, 125,000 adults participate in co-ed leagues – from softball to volleyball to soccer – that’s more than ½ the population!

TREASURE VALLEY YMCA

Big contributor to recreation and youth programs in the Treasure Valley.

Facilities in Caldwell, Meridian/Eagle, West Boise and Downtown Boise

Aquatics, fitness equipment, exercise classes, ball courts, etc.

Thousands of people served

BOISE FOOTHILLS

The Boise Foothills are a vast open space reserve … From the top of Bogus Basin to the Boise River.

It’s called the Ridge to Rivers Trail System

135+ miles of hiking, trail-running and biking trails

BOISE FOOTHILLS

My book, “Mountain Biking in Boise” features 66 rides – from easy Greenbelt excursions to lots of 1.5-hour mid-foothills loops to epic, day-long rides from Boise to Garden Valley.

The Foothills are like a giant playground for mountain biking … today, there are thousands of riders who are out riding the trails nearly every day.

Immediate access to trails on the edge of town is a key ingredient in our quality of life …

BOISE FOOTHILLS

Mountain biking is my favorite form of fitness in the spring and summer …

Start on easy trails, then move up to longer, more challenging rides to get in better shape

The challenging rides tell you what kind of shape you’re in …

BOISE FOOTHILLS

It’s customary after a ride to have a beer with your friends …

BOISE FOOTHILLS

Hiking and trail-running are very popular in the foothills as well.

My book, “Boise Trail Guide” has 77 hiking and trail-running routes within an hour of Boise

The Foothills provide an awesome training ground for trail-runners in particular …

RACE TO ROBIE CREEK

“Toughest half-marathon in the Northwest”

Locals can train for Robie Creek on foothills trails and Rocky Canyon Road

Race is limited to 2,100 participants … sells out in 10 minutes online.

BIG party afterwards

Walking or running Robie Creek should be on everyone’s bucket list

BOISE FOOTHILLS

Open space, trails and wildlife habitat in the Foothills have been enhanced by the foothills property tax levy in 2001, which raised $10 million.

Since that time, about 11,000 acres have been protected with a fair market value of $34 million.

An study in 2011 showed that foothills activities had a positive economic impact of $12 million in one year.

EAGLE FOOTHILLS

The City of Eagle and mountain bike volunteers have instrumental in the development of the Eagle Cycle Park.

The Cycle Park has a number of gap jumps for riders who like to catch BIG AIR, a dual slalom course and a pump track for kids.

It’s a great place for kids to build their mountain biking skills.

GOLF IN THE TREASURE VALLEY

Golf is hugely popular in the Treasure Valley

We have more than 12 golf courses to enjoy in the valley

Convenient access to courses in Nampa, Caldwell, Kuna, Boise, Eagle and Meridian

Lots of business gets done playing golf

THE IDAHO GOLF TRAIL

Golf is hugely popular in the Treasure Valley

We have more than 12 golf courses to enjoy in the valley

Convenient access to courses in Nampa, Caldwell, Kuna, Boise, Eagle and Meridian

14 courses total on the golf trail.

Banbury and Falcon Crest represent SW Idaho on the Idaho Golf Trail

ROAD BIKING IN SW IDAHO

Popular activity for fitness and long-distance rides…

Kristin Armstrong trained on Bogus Basin Road for her Gold Metal victory in the Olympics.

Tons of great road rides in the valley, in the mountains, SW Boise and Canyon County

Boise Twilight Criterium – A favorite annual event in downtown Boise

WHITEWATER BOATING IN SW IDAHO

The new Boise River Park The Payette River – North

Fork, South Fork, Main Fork and Middle Fork

Our desert rivers … the Owyhee River and the Bruneau River


Boise River Park

Opened in 2012

Best for kayaking and surfing

Wave-shaping technology makes the play wave fun at different water levels

Allows boaters to play and build skills close to home


Payette River is an excellent teaching river

Main Fork starting in Banks features Class 1, 2 and 3 whitewater features – good for beginners on up.

Kayakers and rafters start on the “main” Payette and build skills …


South Fork of the Payette River is more pushy and challenging …

Boaters build skills on the Lower South Fork, featuring Bronco Billy, Staircase and Slalom Rapids

Then move on to the “Canyon” section of the South Fork – big day


Big Falls on the South Fork is a scary and breath-taking spot

25-foot multi-tiered waterfall

Mandatory portage

Outfitters and private boaters know the drill …

“Canyon” is a great team-building trip for businesses with adventuresome people


The mighty North Fork of the Payette River …

Crème de la crème of the whitewater experience in Idaho and the nation

15 miles of continuous Class 5 rapids …

More people are running the North Fork than ever before …


The Bruneau River … now protected as a national wild and scenic river and wilderness area

3.5 hour-drive to the put-in

35 miles in 3-4 days

Guided trips available

Very special place …


The Owyhee River in Idaho … now protected as a national wild and scenic river and wilderness area

2.5- to 4-hour drive to the put-in

East Fork, Three Forks to Rome, Lower Owyhee


Also, a very special place …

MORLEY NELSON SNAKE RIVER BIRDS OF PREY NATIONAL CONSERVATION AREA

Great place for spring hiking, biking and camping 20 miles south of Kuna

NCA is 485,000 acres, canyon and the “dining area” for birds of prey.

800 pairs of hawks, owls, eagles and falcons come each spring to mate and raise young.

Boat tours available

CELEBRATION PARK – CANYON COUNTY

Great place for spring camping, hiking, biking, horseback riding, south of Nampa

Excellent educational site re: Native American petroglyphs and Bonneville Flood

Idaho’s first archaeological park

IDAHO STATE PARKS – BRUNEAU DUNES

South of Mountain Home Tallest dunes in North

America at 470 feet above the Snake River Plain

Great place for family camping

Observatory for learning about stars

LAKES AND RESERVOIRS FOR BOATING – LUCKY PEAK

Great place for power-boating, windsurfing, sailing, water skiing, jet-skiing, fishing and camping

Quick access - Spring Shores Marina is 30 minutes from Boise

928,788 total annual visitors, including 350,000 boaters

LAKES AND RESERVOIRS FOR BOATING – LUCKY PEAK

Nearly 1 million visits equates to:

$26.8 M in visitor spending in the Treasure Valley

228 spinoff jobs

$9,258,627 in added value to regional economy

Source: Army Corps of Engineers

Also, Arrowrock and Anderson Ranch Reservoirs nearby

LAKES AND RESERVOIRS FOR BOATING – LAKE LOWELL

Irrigation reservoir for Treasure Valley farmers

Great for pleasure boating, windsurfing, sailing, fishing and bird-watching

Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge borders the lake on south side …

250 bird species and 30 mammal species visit the refuge on an annual basis

Recreation management issues are being worked out w/refuge staff.

LAKES AND RESERVOIRS FOR BOATING – LAKE CASCADE

Irrigation reservoir for Payette River Valley farmers

Great for pleasure boating, windsurfing, sailing, fishing, camping, canoeing, lake kayaking and bird-watching

Big lake! 4th largest in Idaho … 47 square miles

Part of Lake Cascade State Park

Popular with anglers … bass, perch and big rainbows

LAKES AND RESERVOIRS FOR BOATING – LAKE CASCADE

Lake Cascade State Park has 9 developed campgrounds

232 individual campsites

Great place for camping with kids

Important economic driver for cities of Cascade and Donnelly

Annual visition: 300,000+

LAKES AND RESERVOIRS FOR BOATING – PAYETTE LAKE

Beautiful and refreshing place to go when the Teasure Valley gets hot in July and August

Great for water-skiing, windsurfing, jet skiing, sailing and canoeing

Home to Ponderosa State Park – super popular place to camp

Great amenities – boat ramp, swimming, hiking and biking

FLOATING THE BOISE RIVER

Over 10,000 people float the Boise River on a hot summer day

Fun activity for teens, singles, kids and families from June – August

6-mile trip from Barber Park

Rentals and shuttles available

FISHING

Boise River is open to fishing year-round

Lucky Peak keeps the water cold for trout all summer long

Can catch nice rainbows, whitefish and brown trout

Fish and Game stocks excess chinook salmon and steelhead in the river seasonally – BIG BONUS for people in Boise

FISHING

S. Fork Boise River is “secret” spot; Silver Creek near S.V. world-class fishing

HIKING AND BACKPACKING – WORLD CLASS

Sawtooths and White Clouds near Stanley

Payette National Forest

Hundreds of high-mountain lakes for camping and fishing

Awesome scenery

WILDERNESS WHITEWATER VACATIONS - WORLD CLASS

Middle Fork Salmon River

Main Salmon and Lower Salmon River

Selway River Hells Canyon Dream vacation

FALL ACTIVITIES

Hells Canyon “cast and blast”

38-mile float trip over 3-5 days


Catch tons of rainbows and bass

Hunt chukar partridge

Camp with your friends

DEER & ELK HUNTING

Favorite activities in the fall

Many places to hunt in the Boise National Forest, Owyhee Mountains and Payette National Forest


Successful hunters have freezer full of nutritious and tasty meat for the year

WINTER ACTIVITIES Bogus Basin – our favorite

nonprofit local ski resort

Quick access - 30-45 minutes from Boise

Typically more than 300,000 skier visits per year

37 K’s of xc ski trails

Awesome tubing hill

WINTER ACTIVITIES Idaho City Park n’ Ski

Areas & Backcountry Yurts

1.5 hours from Boise

50+ miles of xc ski and snowshoe trails

6 backcountry yurts available for rent

Reasonably priced

Accessible for all abilities

WINTER ACTIVITIES – SUN VALLEY

World-class alpine skiing experience

Awesome parks and pipes at Dollar Mtn

200 K’s of Nordic skiing … also world-class

Plus backcountry skiing at Galena and in the Sawtooths

Helicopter skiing

WINTER ACTIVITIES – MCCALL

McCall Winter Carnival

Skiing at Brundage Mountain

Over 100K’s of Nordic skiing … also world-class

Backcountry skiing at Lick Creek Summit

World-class Snowmobiling

WINTER ACTIVITIES – HOT SPRINGS SW Idaho has

LOTS of hot springs

Primitive and Developed

It’s a unique asset … Idaho has more natural, soakable hot springs than any other state

WRAP UP We are blessed …

It’s no wonder Outside magazine named Boise its No. 1 "Dream Town"

We’re consistently in the top 10 of Forbes lists as a great place to work, live and play

We all know it … does the rest of America know it? Still have to overcome the almighty Idaho spud

WRAP UP Parks, pathways, recreation and

open space are important economic assets for Idaho …

Need to continue to educate our policy makers about this …

Latest Outdoor Industry study showed that outdoor recreation generates 76,700 jobs in Idaho and $6.3 billion in consumer spending … that’s big!

WRAP UP Let’s keep growing our outdoor

recreation amenities … it strengthens our communities, improves our economy and quality of life, enhances our fitness and, most of all, it’s FUN!

More to be done:

Let’s realize the vision of a Greenbelt along the Boise River from Boise to Parma

Expand greenbelts in Nampa & Caldwell

WRAP UP The Idaho Legislature’s talk

about state management of federal lands might work for timber management, but it won’t work for recreation and open space …

Idahoans value the Boise National Forest, Payette National Forest and BLM lands for public access, hunting, fishing, wildlife values and open space.

WRAP UP We need our congressional

delegation to go to bat for recreation $$ on Idaho’s national forests and BLM lands … just like they do for the timber industry and the livestock grazing …

We may need to look at another open space levy for the Boise Foothills … we’re almost out of money & have more work to do

Need more services in Owyhee County.

WRAP UP

In the meantime, enjoy our parks and recreation amenities in SW Idaho …

We have the best base camp in America

Thank you!

Travel

Recreation, Parks and Open Space in SW Idaho