This Boise Bench neighborhood could be getting another park. Here’s what we know
Residents in Boise’s West Bench neighborhood might be getting a new park — if the City Council members approve it.
The city’s Parks and Recreation Department is proposing the purchase of a 0.66-acre piece of land off of North Fry Street to develop a small park that has the potential to make a “big impact” for residents, according to a Thursday news release from the agency.
“Park and open space property preservation is more important than ever as our city grows and evolves,” Boise Parks and Rec Director Doug Holloway said in the release. “Our team is working hard to find land in underserved areas of our city, and along with the relationships built, this is an example of creating access with a high return on community investment.”
The land is located between Northview Street and Fairview Avenue in a densely populated neighborhood “that has limited access to outdoor recreation space,” according to the city. The current closest park is Winstead Park, with the proposed location giving 4,034 residents from 1,950 households on the West Bench access to a neighborhood park within a 10-minute walk — a city goal.
Boise is a part of a national initiative led by the Trust for Public Land, a nonprofit organization, to ensure that every family has access to a park or open space within a 10-minute walk from home. The city says it has made “great strides” over the past eight years, increasing the amount of residents who fit that description from 60 percent to 73 percent.
“This benchmark continues to drive our community investments to increase park access and thoughtfully grow the city’s park and pathways system,” Boise Mayor Lauren McLean said in the release.
Boise’s City Council will decide at its upcoming meeting whether to use Open Space and Clean Water Levy funds — voters approved a $10 million levy for those uses — to purchase the land. Roughly $2.2 million is still available, the city said.
That meeting is at 6 p.m. Tuesday in Maryanne Jordan City Council Chambers on the third floor of City Hall.
If council members approve the purchase, the city would buy the property from private owners for $550,000, which includes closing costs. That price is under market value, according to officials, although the property has an assessed value of $426,000, according to the Ada County Assessor’s Office.
Parks and Rec team members plan to work with the community to develop a master plan, which would include removing an aging structure on the property, according to the release. There isn’t a current timeline for development.
The property’s owners would love to see the space used as a “revitalized resource” for the community, the city said.
“The current owners are deeply rooted and longtime supporters of environmental protection — the site holds deep sentimental value for them,” the release said. “When approached by the city about the potential for a partnership, the family was excited to see their parents’ land used in such a special way.”
