New park, senior center on Meridian’s horizon

By CYNTHIA SEWELL — cmsewell@idahostatesman.com

Posted: 12:00am on Feb 1, 2012

  • Story Photos

  • MERIDIAN STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS

    Typically, Mayor Tammy de Weerd’s State of the City speeches highlight the city’s accomplishments over the previous year and chart the course for the future.

    De Weerd’s ninth speech will be different.

    “ It is going to walk the audience through what I heard as I went campaigning door to door,” said de Weerd, who was elected to her third term in November. She said she’ll talk about immediate goals. ”Then it really lays our strategic priorities for the next four years.”

    During her conversations with constituents, de Weerd said two things were apparent — people love their community and are concerned about the economy.

    The State of the City address starts at 3:59 p.m. (yes, that is the official start time) Wednesday at Meridian Middle School, 1507 W. 8th St. Doors open at 3:30 p.m.

    Tickets can be purchased at the door for $10 each and include admission to the Taste of Meridian reception immediately after the speech. The event is paid for by sponsorships and ticket sales, not tax dollars. Proceeds go toward the city’s scholarship program.

    The event also can be watched live via the city’s website, www.meridiancity.org.

  • MERIDIAN BY THE NUMBERS

    When Mayor Tammy de Weerd took Meridian’s helm in 2004 the city was entering a record-breaking growth spurt. By her second term, the city and the nation were staring down an unprecedented recession.

    Construction may have come to a screeching halt, but the city has been able to increase its parks and amenities, decrease crime rates and consistently post unemployment rates lower than the state.

    Here’s a look at the “state of Meridian” when de Weerd took office and its state today:

    Population

    2004: 47,690

    2011: 76,510

    City budget

    2004: $14.3 million

    2012: $32.7 million

    City employees

    2004: 210

    2012: 352.4

    City park acres:

    2004: 91.675

    2012: 181.974

    City trail miles

    2004: 2 miles

    2012: 8.85 miles

    Property crimes

    2004: 1,838, 33.5 per 1,000

    2011: 1,728, 22.5 per 1,000

    Crimes against persons

    2004: 500, 10.5 per thousand

    2011: 518, 6.77 per thousand

    Residential building permits

    2004: 2,669

    2011: 542

    Unemployment

    Meridian: 7.4 percent in 2011, compared with 2.8 percent in 2004

    Idaho: 8.4 percent in 2011, compared with 4.7 percent in 2004.

The Julius M. Kleiner family’s gift to the city of Meridian — a $25 million, 60-acre park — is almost complete.

Designed to offer a peaceful urban retreat, the park at the northeast corner of Eagle Road and Fairview Avenue features a plaza, band shell, amphitheater, arboretum and rose garden, ponds, public art, recreation complex, picnic areas, paths and open space. It’s got the Rock of Honor Memorial to commemorate military members from Meridian who’ve died in battle.

Crews are putting the finishing touches on the Kleiner family’s other gift to the community — a new senior center. Located within the park, the newly constructed 14,000-square-foot building designed by Johnson Architects of Meridian features expansive windows overlooking the park.

The new center includes a main dining area with two kitchens outfitted with the latest commercial equipment; an arts and crafts room; game room; health screening room; an indoor walking track and additional office space.

When Meridian Mayor Tammy de Weerd gives her ninth State of the City address Wednesday, she plans to make an announcement about the park and the senior center. She wouldn’t tip her hand to the Statesman.

“This park is just going to be a phenomenal asset, not only for our community, but for the region as a whole,” de Weerd said. “Who in their lifetime gets to experience such a generous gift … creating a special place where families can go and memories can be created?”

KLEINER AND THE PARK

The park was designed by and is being developed by the Julius M. Kleiner Memorial Park Trust, comprising Kleiner’s son, Eugene Kleiner of Seattle, and family friends Elden Gray of Boise and Mike Huter of Nampa. The trust will donate the park to the city when it is finished.

Julius Kleiner was born in 1892 and came to America in 1916. He moved to Idaho in the 1920s, owning the creameries in Caldwell and Nampa at different times and a poultry business. Kleiner purchased the Kleiner Park property from the Morrison Knudsen Co. in 1944 and turned it into a dairy farm, which operated until the 1970s. Kleiner died in 1972.

A bronze sculpture of Kleiner, created by artist Jay Warren at his studio in Rogue River, Ore., will stand in a grand plaza along the promenade.

The last pieces of the park left to finish are the roads that provide access to the senior center and other park areas. The city plans a grand opening in the spring.

Officials couldn’t be reached for details on when the senior center will move into its new home.

Cynthia Sewell: 377-6428

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