About 6,000 tons of granite boulders were removed from Bogus Basin Mountain Recreation Area this summer, according to a spokeswoman for the ski area.

The rock will be used to create whitewater for kayakers at the new River Recreation Park, which is under construction in Boise. The rock removal has created 120 new parking spaces at Bogus.

"We can always use more parking spaces at Bogus Basin,” Steve Shake, vice president of mountain operations at Bogus Basin, said in a news release Monday. "Bogus Basin gains more spaces for vehicles and the River Recreation Park gets the boulders it needs — it is a win, win situation."

The new spaces will be in the Bogus Creek #4 lot, past the Nordic Center and just beyond the first switchback on the Pioneer Road.

The rock removal and transfer will save the river park up to $40,000. The granite is being stockpiled at the Esther Simplot Park in Boise.