BOISE, Idaho — The earth was moved on Thursday in the city of trees.
The City of Boise broke ground at its newest park, coming to Boise's West Bench neighborhood, across from Capital High School.
Over five years ago, the West Bench Neighbors Association approached the city about a potential property that stretches along Settlers Canal. Neighbors thought it was the perfect location for a new park.
The 3-acre property was owned by the Settlers Irrigation District. But, in July of 2022, they donated the land to the city.
On Thursday, the city broke ground on the $2 million project to give the park some new features, including a covered shelter and spots to garden and seed.
But what makes this park unique compared to Boise's collection of parks is that it’s both passive and active. Residents can stop and engage in activities or take a walk with the new 10-foot-wide pathway the park will get, stretching the entire length of the property. Another bonus - you can get to other city parks from it.
"This actually does create a critical connection," Doug Holloway, Director of Parks and Recreation said. "East of us here, is our Spaulding Ranch, 20-acre working farm that the city owns."
The park will be close to the Hyatt Hidden Lakes Reserve giving parkgoers another option.
"So, you are really connecting two major parks in the middle with this connection as well," Holloway said.
Boise Mayor Lauren McLean has been an advocate to get every kid in the city of Boise, a park within ten minutes of walking distance from their front door. She said the city is getting closer to that goal by allowing 1900 more people, that 10-minute access
This park isn’t like the city’s other parks that have a more square or rectangular shape.
“What’s unique about this is that it's skinny and long," Mayor McLean said. "And sets the bar and kind of gets us thinking about how we can come up with other interestingly shaped parks around the city to meet our goals of making sure every Boise kid can walk safely to a park within ten minutes."
During the ceremony, a group of neighbors walked to the groundbreaking and spoke with officials about the upcoming park.
Christy Randolph, who is a member of the neighborhood association, said the big push came from longtime residents Ron and Jeanette Marler.
The Marler family couldn't make it to the ceremony, so neighbors made sure they were there in spirit by holding a sign in the shape of a heart with their picture.
The project is funded by a levy, approved by the city's Open Space and Clean Water Advisory.
It's currently named "Goddard Linear Park and Pathway," but the city officials said they will give it a new name closer to when it's expected to open, later this fall.
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