Boise buys more open space near Foothills trails, Old Hill Road neighborhood
Boise has added even more acreage to its open spaces in the Foothills, according to a news release from the city’s Department of Parks and Recreation on Monday.
The 2.6-acre property along West Hill Road Parkway near Duncan Lane cost $355,000 before due diligence and closing costs, officials said. It will be paid for with funds from the 2015 Clean Water and Open Space Levy Fund, which still contains more than $9 million.
The parcel was previously owned by Viper Investments LLC. Local home builder Corey Barton is the registered agent for the company, according to Idaho Secretary of State’s Office documents.
Neighbors have long fought to protect the open space in the Northwest Boise neighborhood, protesting developments like the Prominence subdivision slated to add hundreds of homes nearby. Prominence is a project by Trilogy Development, which often works with Barton’s CBH Homes.
“This piece of property has a lot of potential for the neighborhood and surrounding areas,” Parks and Recreation director Doug Holloway said in the news release. “We will be engaging in a robust public outreach effort to get feedback on opportunities for the site, which could include agricultural components for the community.”
No public meetings have been scheduled regarding the space, and the city said there’s currently no timetable for the project.
The parcel features “irrigation infrastructure” as well as public right-of-way nearby that connects to trails in the Foothills. Officials said the space could retain some of the neighborhood’s agricultural roots.
“Potential activations at the site could include community gardens, fruit trees and vegetable plantings and walking paths,” said Sara Arkle, Foothills and open space superintendent, in the news release. “We’re pleased to preserve this area for future generations.”
