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Tag Archives: river rec park
Y-Not Triathalon and Y-Not Swim
There are two YMCA races coming up at our very own Quinn’s Pond this Saturday, July 12. A triathalon will start at 10am and a swim at 9am. There are different options for all levels to take part in the triathalon or the swim. Register to participate or just come watch the races!
Boise River Park Phase 2 Public Meeting
6pm Wednesday Feb 26
AGC Building, 1649 W Shoreline Dr
Park users, neighbors and the community are invited to attend a public meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 26, to learn more about plans to extend the Boise River Park, add in-river features and wildlife habitat, and make shoreline improvements.
The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. at the Associated General Contractors Building, 1649 W. Shoreline Drive, with a presentation by the design team from McMillen, S2o Design, and DHM Design.
Learn More:
http://parks.cityofboise.org/parks-locations/parks/boise-river-park/
Whitewater Park Update
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.
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
9/17 River Sweep moves inland
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.
VPNA River Sweep Sept 17th
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.
Simplot Family will fund Construction of Park
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.