Boise to use levy funds on new trail; Idaho parks implement first day-use reservations
Boise could use more than $800,000 in funds from a 2015 levy to finance a new trail in the Foothills’ Hawkins Range Reserve, according to a news release.
Hawkins Loop Trail is slated to cover 5.7 miles on the former Hawkins Ranch property on the west side of Bogus Basin Road past the Sweet Connie trailhead. The trail, which has been in the works since 2018, would also have a .6-mile spur called Harrow Trail to connect the ends of the loop in a shorter 1.5-mile trail.
In the news release, officials said construction of the trail and trailhead is estimated to cost just over $1 million. The city has budgeted $195,000 for the project, and project managers have requested up to $820,000 in funds from the 2015 Open Space and Clean Water Levy. Additional funding could come from private donations, city officials said.
More than $7.8 million is still available from the levy, which originally raised $10 million for open space preservation and water improvement in Boise.
The trail would be a multi-use directional trail, with hikers, runners, mountain bikers and equestrians all traveling in the same direction. It would be closed from November to March to preserve winter wildlife habitat. Plans for the trailhead include a paved parking lot, a restroom, landscaping and picnic tables.
The Boise City Council will decide May 10 whether to approve the levy request. If the council approves the funding, construction is scheduled to begin later this year.
Idaho Parks and Rec debuts day-use reservations
Idaho State Parks and Recreation announced last week that it would implement a reservation system for a day-use site at one of its parks for the first time.
In a news release, the agency said it would begin taking reservations for the North Beach area of Bear Lake State Park, on the Idaho-Utah state line. The number of vehicle permits will fluctuate but is expected to be around 700 per day. Other day-use areas in the park will not be subject to the reservation system.
Parks and Rec has previously used reservations for many of its campgrounds, but the move marks the first time it has implemented a reservation system for day-use sites.
“Anyone who has tried to visit the park during summer months can attest that it gets busy fast,” said park ranger Andrew Stokes in the news release. “Each weekend, we are full by about 10 a.m. and have to turn cars away due to over-capacity. A reservation would give visitors peace of mind and guaranteed entry into the park.”
Reservations will cost $10 for Idaho residents and $20 for others. That price includes the vehicle entry fee, so Idahoans who purchased a parks pass with their vehicle registration will pay only $3.
Chelsea Chambers, spokesperson for Parks and Rec, told the Statesman the day-use reservation system could be implemented in other high-use areas if all goes well at Bear Lake.
The agency’s parks have become increasingly busy in recent years, with a record 7.6 million visits in 2020.
This story was originally published May 3, 2022 at 5:43 PM.
