Construction on the Ray Neef River Recreation Park has been progressing very well. The river which had been diverted through Quinns Pond is now back in the natural channel so most of the in-river work is completed. To read more from a recent article from the Statesman click here.
We obtained an early copy of the Esther Simplot Park Master Plan – very exciting. It doesn’t look like the city has posted anything better on their website yet but better copies will be available soon. For a bigger version of the plan click on the picture to bring up the full pdf version.
The 30th Street Area Master Plan is scheduled for hearing by the City Council on November 15, 2011.
Council hearings begin at 6:00 PM.
The Planning and Zoning Commission Monday night approved a river system permit for the first phase of the whitewater park, which will include widening the river bank and replacing of the Thurman Mill Diversion. A spokeswoman for Boise Parks and Recreation tells us that crews will begin preparing the site Tuesday. The Greenbelt will be closed as early as Wednesday when construction would begin.
The permit allows for clearing and excavation of the river bank at the site and for improvements associated with the replacement of the Thurman Mill Diversion and construction of the first phase of the park. The future park site is located near 3400 W. Pleasanton Ave. west of downtown Boise between Main Street and Veteran’s Memorial Park.
During the five-month construction project, the Greenbelt will be closed on the north side of the river from Main Street to the Pleasanton spur and the 36th Street pedestrian bridge. Signs mark a pedestrian detour around the construction zone. At more than 100 years old, the existing Thurman Mill diversion is in serious disrepair. Over the years, the structure has created a public safety hazard resulting from a dangerous hydraulic situation at most river flows. The project includes replacement of the aging diversion and construction of a new fully automated structure that will allow for in-river recreation activities.
To take advantage of low water in the Boise River, crews are scheduled to work 10-hour days from 7 a.m. to 6p.m. six days a week, Mondays through Saturdays, for up to three months. Construction may be noisy and require lighting for after-hours work. Improvements will include widening of the river bank, which also will be heavily armored to add stability and reconfigured to allow the public to sit and observe the river and the users of the water park.
In other news… boulders from Bogus Basin will be used in River Park
On July 13th the VPNA received a letter from Cody Riddle, the Manager of Boise City Planning and Development Services, requesting comments or concerns or other feedback in response to the preliminary recommendations of the Urban Agriculture Committee. Please click on this link and read the attached letter and memorandum and direct your comments and questions to Cody Riddle at (208) 384-3830 or criddle@cityofboise.org
Formal comments on the preliminary recommendations should be submitted no later than 5:00 pm on July 29th, 2011.
The June 28 History Walk was a huge success! About 50 people showed up to hear Tully recount the history of the Pleasanton Addition as we strolled past neighborhood landmarks (see photos here). Having residents on the tour added a few colorful stories to the history. At the tour’s conclusion we held a VPNA fund raiser raffle with awesome prizes from Asian Wok, Idaho River Sports, Moxie Java, Westside Drive-In, Whiz Kids Day Care and Preschool and Zolee n Company Salon. A BIG THANKS to Tully and our sponsors for making this event a hit.
Tully will be doing a different tour September 29th in the Fairview Park Neighborhood. This event is sponsored by Preservation Idaho. Tickets are available for purchase on their website. The size of these walks are limited so reserve your spot now.
Great news from an email sent from Friends of Boise Parks…
RIVER RECREATION PARK A HIGHLIGHT OF MAYOR BIETER’S STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS.
The Simplot family will fund construction of Esther Simplot Park and will launch the project next winter with facilities to support the adjacent Boise River Recreation Park, Boise Mayor David H. Bieter announced in his May 18 State of the City Address.
Mayor Bieter praised the Simplot family for moving forward to develop Esther Simplot Park, a 55-acre parcel along the Boise River west of Main Street. The Simplot family donated $1 million in 2003 to complete the purchase of the park. But its development had been considered a later phase after the River Recreation Park was developed and subject to additional fund raising.
The Simplots will move forward with a comprehensive master plan for Esther Simplot Park and will fund construction of the park. They will start next winter by building an access road, parking lot and restroom facilities in tandem with the River Recreation Park.
“This is one of the most significant donations in the history of the Boise parks system,” the mayor said. “And in addition to dollars injected into our local economy, it means that the redevelopment jump-start this area needs will happen that much sooner.”
Construction of Phase I of the Boise River Recreation Park will continue in the fall and is scheduled for completion spring 2012. Phase I includes the rebuilding of the Thurman Mill diversion to include patented Wave Shaper technology. Phase II of the park includes downstream water features and is in the planning stages pending agreements with downstream water users.
UPCOMING EVENTS TO HIGHLIGHT THE RIVER REC PARK
6/18/11, Steve Fisher Film: “Halo Effect” – Raffle proceeds to benefit the Boise River Recreation Park. The Egyptian Theater, 7:30 – 11 pm. www.egyptiantheatre.net.
On June 8, 2011 VPNA board members Katie Hartman (Pleasanton) and Matt Ellsworth (Park Davis) met with the Simplot Foundation and Boise City officials to discuss the Esther Simplot Park. Prior to the meeting other VPNA board members provided brainstorming ideas for the park, those can be read using this link. The development of the Esther Simplot Park is a huge opportunity for residents to shape the future of our neighborhood. VPNA welcomes your input. Please either email us your thoughts at vpnaboise@gmail.com or attend the June board meeting (this coming monday at Idaho River Sports 6:30pm) and share your thoughts with us in person. Below is a full account of what was discussed at the June 8 meeting, specific amenities are in bold for a quick read:
Main points of interest:
Next steps:
Preliminary timeline for comments/review
ACHD is exploring the possibility of constructing a new street connection between Willow Lane and Alamosa Street using property owned by ACHD. Click here to view the handouts provided at the most recent open house and email comments to ACHD directly. Or click here to fill out a short survey about this project before June 6th, 2011. If you have more questions, contact Jeff Lowe ACHD Transportation Planner at 387-6235.
Five sections of the Greenbelt have been closed because of high flows on the Boise River.
Areas that have been closed include:
• The tunnel on the south side East Parkcenter Bridge near Bown Crossing
• Loggers Creek footbridge from Leadville Avenue east to the West ParkCenter Bridge in Southeast Boise.
• The Bethine Church River Trail, a gravel section from the Cottonwoods Apartments on Riverstone Lane east to the powerline corridor near East Gossamer Lane in Southeast Boise.
• The Broadway Avenue underpass on the north side of the river near Boise State University.
• The Main Street tunnel on the north side of the river near Bernardine Quinn Riverside Park
