Simplot Park Meeting Reminder

Boise Parks and Recreation will be discussing plans for Esther Simplot Park, as well as, taking comments at a public meeting: 5:30pm, Thursday December 1 at Whittier Elementary School, 301 N. 29th Street.

If you are unable to attend you can submit your comments, send them to Wendy Larimore at Boise Parks and Recreation: wlarimore@cityofboise.org, or call 608-7636.

VPNA November board meeting minutes are now available under the documents tab at vpnaboise.org. These also discuss VPNA’s input to the project.

Simplot Park Plan Public Meeting Dec 1

PROPOSED SIMPLOT PARK PLAN SUBJECT OF UPCOMING PUBLIC MEETING
A proposed plan for the Esther Simplot Community Park shows expanded ponds and a meandering stream. Natural and paved pathways weave through grassy areas, across bridges and around islands and picnic shelters.

Boise Parks and Recreation will discuss these plans and take comments at a public meeting: 5:30pm, Thursday December 1 at Whittier Elementary School, 301 N. 29th Street.

For more information, or to see the full plan, click here. If you are unable to attend to submit your comments, send them to Wendy Larimore at Boise Parks and Recreation: wlarimore@cityofboise.org, or call 608-7636.

Construction Party

A few pictures from the Whitewater Park Construction Party. Thanks to Idaho River Sports for hosting the event, McAlvain Construction for offering tours and Capital High School for making a model that brought the project to life.


Above – Capital High School students created this model of the whitewater park.


Above: Next generation testing out the 2 adjustable wave shapers

Above: Cross-section of crest control mechanism. Height of crest controlled by black air bladder.


Above: Walter McBrier, the McAlvain Construction project manager, at the project site where the Boise River has been diverted through Quinn’s Pond. Steel wall is being driven into river channel to prevent undermining of the new diversion dam and wave shapers.


Above: Crane sitting in Boise River Channel downstream of the new diversion dam. The play waves will be located near location of crane. Equipment should be out of river by January 1st.

Whitewater Park Construction Party this Saturday

Everyone is invited to a “Construction Party” being hosted by McAlvain Construction, the City of Boise, and Idaho River Sports this Saturday (11/12/11). This is a celebration of Phase 1 construction of the Boise River Recreation Park.

Location: Idaho River Sports
Time: 10 am to 2 pm.

Walter McBrier, the McAlvain Construction project manager, will be there in the morning to give tours and answer questions about project and the construction. Since it is a construction site, anyone taking the tour is required to wear closed toe shoes and a limited number of hardhats and vests will be available for each tour. Come early to make sure you get on a tour of the site! If you haven’t seen it the construction site is truly something, the Boise River has been diverted through Quinn’s Pond leaving the river channel dry and under construction.

You will also have the opportunity to see the “waveshapper model” built by Centennial High School students, which demonstrates how the waveshapper will provide water to irrigators while also providing an adjustable wave for playing on the river in kayaks, surf boards, canoes and inner tubes. Walt, Friends of the River Park, and Boise City Park and Rec Staff will be on hand to discuss this exciting project. Idaho River sports will be providing hot chili and hot apple cider to warm you up after the tour. Call 336-4844 for more information.

Construction of River Recreation Park Begins

 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

Pleasanton Arch Walk this Thursday

Preservation Idaho will feature Tully Gerlach leading a historical/architectural walk of the Fairview Park Neighborhood this Thursday (9/29/11). Space is limited and the evening walk is full. Tickets are still available for the lunch-time walk at noon. To register follow this link.

This walk will be similar to the one Tully did earlier this summer in the Pleasanton neighborhood but this one will focus on the southern part of neighborhood.