Parks and Rec has 3 groups to “sweep” the area near the ponds and river so VPNA is going to shift our clean-up effort to in-land areas. We’ll be focusing on alleys and school grounds instead.
Meet at Idaho River Sports lot at 10am September 17th (this Saturday) till noon. Please bring a few trash bags and a pair of gloves. Thanks.
In conjunction with the Boise River Sweep VPNA is planning a river/pong cleanup on September 17th (Saturday) starting at 10 am till noon. We are meeting at the Idaho River Sports lot at 10am. We’ll focus on cleaning up of the river and Quinn’s Pond area. Please bring a few trash bags and a pair of gloves.
Come join a new neighborhood playgroup at Fairview Park and help you kids make neighborhood friends. All ages welcome.
Mondays: 5 – 8pm bring a picnic if you like
Wednesdays: 10am – noon (starting this week 8/17)
Location: Fairview Park corner of 24th and Bannock
Please pass the word along to others who may not be subscribed to the VPNA website.
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.
As part of the Walking Trail project VPNA is organizing a training workshop “ How to conduct effective oral history interviews” led by Brandi Burns, Boise City Historian.
When: Thursday July 21st from 7-8:30pm
Where: 2400 West Bannock Street
Who: Anyone interested in learning the story of our neighborhood can attend
Cost: Free
In August and September we will be coordinating small backyard potlucks/BBQs where neighbors will have the chance to learn the story of their street, block, etc… Oral histories could be done with longtime residents, refugees, a church/mosque, a business owner, etc… The interviews will be recorded and hopefully portions of them will add human interest to the interpretive walking trail. We’re especially interested in learning from people in all parts of the 30th Street Neighborhood (see map of proposed trail for area of interest). We want to keep these events intimate so they will be by invitation of the host on whatever date works best.
We need your help to make this work.
Please contact us if you’d like to host an interview or if you know of someone we need to interview or if you have historical information or photos. email: vpnaboise@gmail.com or call Jeff Anderson at 608-2385
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.
Mayor Bieter recently launched a new initiative to celebrate good neighbors. (See press release here)
All Boise residents are encouraged to nominate neighbors who have gone out of their way to help those around them. To nominate a local citizen for a Good Neighbor Award, visit goodneighbors.cityofboise.org or contact Charlene Miller at (208) 570-6070. Nominations are due by September 11, 2011.
“Great neighborhoods are the cornerstones of a livable city. Boise is fortunate to have a thriving network of active neighborhoods in all parts of the city,” Mayor Bieter said. “I hope this new initiative will further strengthen the ties between Boise residents, establish new connections within our community and honor those residents who set an example of how good neighbors can improve and enhance our lives.”
Don’t forget the history walk by Tully Gerlach is this tuesday June 28th starting at 7:30pm at the corner 23rd St and Woodlawn in the parking lot of the Congregational Church. For more info click here
Don’t be late or you might get left behind as we will be walking through the neighborhood after congregating.
The walk is free but bring cash or check to take part in the VPNA raffle with great prizes from…
Idaho River Sports
Moxie Java
Asian Wok
Westside Drive-in
Whiz Kids
and more…
VPNA invites you to a free walking tour “History of Boise’s West End” by Tully Gerlach.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011, 7:30 pm
We’ll start from the parking lot of the 1st Congregational Church at 23rd St and Woodlawn. The total walk will be about 1.5 miles with lots of stops.
We are hoping to do a VPNA fund raiser raffle as part of the tour so be sure to bring cash or a checkbook to buy tickets.
Tully will focus on the Pleasanton Addition, shown in the attached map, although much of the information applies to the larger neighborhood too. Tully did this same walk last summer as part of Preservation Idaho’s “Arch Walk” series.
This event is part of a effort to build an interpretive walking trail through the 30th Street neighborhoods which will highlight the area’s history, cultural diversity and architecture. To find out more about this project click here.
Also if this kind of thing interests you, Tully will be doing another Arch Walk for Preservation Idaho on September 29th which will highlight the Fairview Park Neighborhood. Space is limited for the Arch Walks and they often fill up. To register follow this link.
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.
