By:Tasha Smagula
The West End and this parcel have historically been used industrially. This area was previously occupied by meat packers and asphalt companies. After the passage of the Clean Water Act of 1972, these industrial companies began moving away from the river because of increased regulation of river pollutants. One of these companies to move away from this area was the Quinn Robin Construction Company. This area was once used as an asphalt settling pond but was donated to the City of Boise in 1997 (Boise River Resource). This pond is now an undeveloped recreational park in Boise used for fishing, swimming, boating, diving and other various water sports (Figure 1).
Figure 1. Quinn’s Pond in Winter 2015
On the Greenbelt’s 30th anniversary in 1999, there was chatter about building a whitewater park for the public. Published in the Boise River Resources Management and master Plan of 1999 was the plans for the Boise River Park (Boise River Resource). It wasn’t until the early 2000’s that these plans were formed and started buzz in the city. In 2002, Gary Lacy, a civil hydraulic engineer, visited Boise to consult with Boise city, state and federal officials on creating a whitewater park along the Boise River. The intention of this project was to turn a beat-up section of the river that had abandoned industrial debris such as remnants of an old concrete plant and turn it into a recreational park. “[Whitewater parks] are being used to clean up riverbanks and improve greenbelts and access to rivers nationwide”. There are both economic and social benefits from a whitewater park including Olympic training, kayak competitions, increased fishing catch below the park, youth recreation and rehabilitation of the river (Zimowsky, 15 Dec. 2002).
In summer of 2003, a public meeting was held with Gary Lacy and Scott Shipley, a three-time Olympic kayaker. These two asked for feedback from the public on how the park should look. At this meeting, ideas were brought up for two to three sections of whitewater park that could be used by beginners, kayaks, freestyle, play-boating and a slalom course (Figure 2). Gary Lacy has noticed across the country that a huge part of these whitewater parks is to accommodate spectators and large crowds of people watching and waiting (Philips, 29 May 2003). Later that summer it was estimated that it would cost $300,000 for each of the three phases of whitewater park. The money would need to be raised and permits acquired (Phillips, 31 Jul. 2003).
Figure 2. Whitewater Park with future phases in Boise, ID (Boise River Resource) 2014
Plans would be delayed and in 2008, meetings were still being held for whitewater park ideas. Added to the plan is the Esther Simplot Park and the 30th street development. These plans envisioned “mixed-used, high-density (development) closer to Downtown” (Dryden 28 Oct. 2008). A year later plans for the Whitewater Park now named the Boise River Park grew into a bigger project with multiple phases. The first phase of Boise River Park was the Whitewater Park, costing $3.6 million (Figure 3). Already $2.25 million had been raised with a $750,000 donation from the city of Boise. The additional funds would be raised through large and small donations. Two of the Whitewater Park sections would be accessed through a larger project: Esther Simplot Park. Work was estimated to begin in the winter during low flow (Zimowsky 19 Nov. 2009). Construction on the Whitewater Park began in 2010 and was completed in 2012. The main attraction for the Whitewater Park is the adjustable play wave that “was made possible by the Thurman Mill Canal Company and the reconstruction of their weir and diversion structure” (Boise River Resource). The park now hosts spectators with seating on rocks and benches in the warm high flow months.
Figure 3. Boise, ID Whitewater Park (Boise River Resource) 2014
In 2011 the vision of the 30th street development was growing with excitement. “Rarely does a city get a chance to create almost from scratch a new central district within the core of a highly urbanized area” (Sewell 23 Jan. 2011). The Boise River Park would connect Bernadine Quinn Park and Esther Simplot Park. These two parks would be added to the “Ribbon of Jewels”, a series of parks dedicated to prominent women in Boise’s history (Sewell 23 Jan. 2011). In 2013, the beginning of 30th street development became a reality. In October, the new five lane road that runs parallel to the River and what was once called 30th street will be dedicated as Whitewater Park Boulevard. This marks the start of the large project to redevelop this area into a future recreational heavy, multi-use area (Staff 23 Oct. 2013).
Construction for Esther Simplot officially began January 23, 2015. The entrance for this park is located off of Whitewater Park Boulevard. Esther Simplot Park is named and funded by prominent woman, Esther Simplot of the Simplot family and Simplot family foundation. They own multiple agricultural corporations throughout Idaho. This new park will have a lot of aquatic features including three two sections of the Boise River Park. This area was once home to several construction companies and their asphalt settling ponds. Once the park is completed it will have 17 acres of ponds for fishing, swimming, beaches and wetlands (Figure 4). This project aims to revitalize this area along the Boise River as well as provide recreation and environmentally friendly wetlands (Murri 21 Feb. 2015).
Figure 4. Esther Simplot Park in Boise, ID (Boise Parks and Recreation) 2015
After an industrial start, the future of this parcel is very promising. The development plans and current recreational opportunities at this parcel are inventive and environmentally friendly for the Boise River and Boise area. Plans have snowballed since 2012 and in 2015 construction has begun on Esther Simplot Park. Soon 30th Street will be redeveloped and the once named West End industrial area will soon be the Whitewater-park district (Figure 5).
Figure 5. Future West End Development
Sources:
Boise River Resource Management & Master Plan. City of Boise, The (Boise, ID) 2014. Print.
Dryden, Chad. "Boise wants your ideas on whitewater park designs - The city also wants input on the 30th Street development. Meetings are Tuesday, Thursday." Idaho Statesman, The (Boise, ID) 28 Oct. 2008, Local. NewsBank. Web. 20 Apr. 2015.
Murri, Jessica. “Site Prepped for Esther Simplot Park” Boise Weekly. (Boise, ID) 21 Feb, 2015. Web. 21 Apr. 2015.
Staff, Pete Zimowsky. "A whitewater park in Boise?." Idaho Statesman, The (Boise, ID) 15 Dec. 2002, Local: 08. NewsBank. Web. 16 Apr. 2015.
Staff, Roger Phillips. "Kayakers want to play, learn on Boise River." Idaho Statesman, The (Boise, ID) 29 May 2003, Outdoors: 08. NewsBank. Web. 20 Apr. 2015.
Staff, Roger Phillips. "Whitewater park is a 'quality of life' issue." Idaho Statesman, The (Boise, ID) 31 Jul. 2003, Outdoors: 08. NewsBank. Web. 20 Apr. 2015.
SEWELL, CYNTHIA. "Cynthia Sewell: 377-6428: Boise to retool 30th Street neighborhood - In the coming weeks and months, you can get involved in shaping the whitewater-park district.." Idaho Statesman, The (Boise, ID) 23 Jan. 2011, Local. NewsBank. Web. 20 Apr. 2015.
Staff, Idaho Statesman. "Boise, highway district to dedicate Whitewater Park Boulevard." Idaho Statesman, The (Boise, ID) 23 Oct. 2013, Local. NewsBank. Web. 20 Apr. 2015.
Zimowsky, Pete. "Whitewater parks coming soon to a river near you - Parts of the Boise Greenbelt will be widened in the coming months as part of the first phase of construction.." Idaho Statesman, The (Boise, ID) 19 Nov. 2009, Local: 1. NewsBank. Web. 20 Apr. 2015.
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