The Treasure Valley in SW Idaho is richly endowed with city parks, county parks, state parks, a multitude of recreation opportunities and and many open space reserves. Combine that with a plethora of world-class mountains, rivers, canyons and trails in national forests and BLM lands nearby, the Treasure Valley is arguably the "Best base camp in America."

1. RECREATION, PARKS
& OPEN SPACE
IN SW IDAHO

2. “WE ARE BLESSED”

3. WE HAVE AWESOME
PARKS &
RECREATION
AMENITIES IN
SW IDAHO

4. FROM CITY PARKS TO
GREENBELTS TO
WORLD-CLASS
RIVERS, MOUNTAINS,
AND CANYONS

5. WE’RE AN ACTIVE, FIT
COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE
IN SW IDAHO.
WE LIKE TO PLAY
OUTSIDE.
My motto: It’s good for the heart, good for
the soul, good for the mind, and it’s fun!
So we like to play as often as possible…

6. WE WANT CLOSE
ACCESS TO PARKS &
RECREATION – AND
OUR COMMUNITIES
REFLECT THAT.

7. LET’S TAKE A QUICK
TOUR OF PARKS &
REC. IN SW IDAHO –
FOLLOWING THE
SEASONS
And see how it all adds up.

8. LET’S START WITH
SPRING AND SUMMER
ACTIVITIES …

9. SPRING IS A TIME WHEN WE FLOCK TO OUR LOCAL PARKS
 Local parks are a treasure in our
communities
 A place for rest and relaxation close
to home
 Pools and playgrounds for kids
 Ball fields for soccer, la
crosse, baseball and softball
 Open space for dogs and frisbee golf

10. CALDWELL PARKS & RECREATION
 Caldwell has 13 parks serving a
population of 46,000 people
 Large parks with multiple ball fields
for sports
 Playgrounds for kids
 Swimming pools, walking paths

11. CALDWELL PARKS & RECREATION
 Oregon Trail Centennial
Greenway
 3.2 miles along the Boise
River
 Connects to 17-acre
Whittenberger Park
 I call it the Caldwell
Greenbelt – It’s in my
“Boise Trail Guide”

12. CITY OF CALDWELL – INDIAN CR. DAYLIGHTING PROJECT
 $13 million investment
 Creative financing
through multiple sources
 Expected to inspire
$90 million in economic
development

13. NAMPA PARKS & RECREATION
 Nampa has 25 parks serving a population
of 82,000 people
 Large parks with multiple ball fields for
sports
 Reservable shelters for events
 Playgrounds for kids
 Swimming pools, walking paths
 Even a 6-acre dog park

14. NAMPA PARKS & RECREATION
 Wilson Creek Greenway –
Nampa’s Greenbelt
 Trailhead on Greenhurst or
Iowa near hospital in South
Nampa
 Pathway follows Wilson
Creek – scenic and pretty
 5 miles round-trip

15. NAMPA PARKS & RECREATION
 Nampa Rec Center
 Serves 700,000 people per year
 5 pools
 Climbing wall
 Weight room
 Indoor track
 Racquetball … among other
things

16. MERIDIAN PARKS & RECREATION
 Meridian has 20 parks serving a
population 76,000 people
 Meridian has big families, so they
need lots of ball fields
 Community pools and amphitheaters
 New, 58-acre Julius Kleiner Park … cool
park that has just about everything …
fishing ponds, bocce ball and
community garden

17. CITY OF MERIDIAN
Also has … Roaring Springs
Water Park!
 Hugely popular outdoor amenity
 More than 200,000 visit Roaring
Springs every summer

18. BOISE PARKS & RECREATION
 Boise has 110 park sites serving
a population of 210,000 people
 1.3 million visitors per year
 Big parks and neighborhood
parks
 Community Centers
 $17M raised via impact fees for
new parks development since
‘93

19. BOISE RIVER GREENBELT 22-MILE PATH TIES PARKS TOGETHER

20. BOISE PARKS & RECREATION
 Two big parks coming
online in the next year:
 Maryanne Williams
Park in E. Boise near
Bown Crossing – 4 mile
hiking and biking loop
 Esther Simplot Park
next to the Boise
Whitewater Park

21. BOISE PARKS & RECREATION
 Our kids love to play
sports in our
communities, but
adults do too!
 In Boise, 125,000 adults
participate in co-ed
leagues – from softball
to volleyball to soccer –
that’s more than ½ the
population!

22. TREASURE VALLEY YMCA
 Big contributor to recreation
and youth programs in the
Treasure Valley.
 Facilities in
Caldwell, Meridian/Eagle, West
Boise and Downtown Boise
 Aquatics, fitness
equipment, exercise classes, ball
courts, etc.
 Thousands of people served

23. BOISE FOOTHILLS
 The Boise Foothills are a
vast open space reserve
… From the top of Bogus
Basin to the Boise River.
 It’s called the Ridge to
Rivers Trail System
 135+ miles of hiking, trail-
running and biking trails

24. BOISE FOOTHILLS
 My book, “Mountain Biking in Boise” features
66 rides – from easy Greenbelt excursions to
lots of 1.5-hour mid-foothills loops to
epic, day-long rides from Boise to Garden
Valley.
 The Foothills are like a giant playground for
mountain biking … today, there are thousands
of riders who are out riding the trails nearly
every day.
 Immediate access to trails on the edge of
town is a key ingredient in our quality of life

25. BOISE FOOTHILLS
 Mountain biking is my
favorite form of fitness in
the spring and summer …
 Start on easy trails, then
move up to longer, more
challenging rides to get in
better shape
 The challenging rides tell
you what kind of shape
you’re in …

26. BOISE FOOTHILLS
 It’s customary
after a ride to
have a beer
with your
friends …

27. BOISE FOOTHILLS
 Hiking and trail-running
are very popular in the
foothills as well.
 My book, “Boise Trail
Guide” has 77 hiking and
trail-running routes within
an hour of Boise
 The Foothills provide an
awesome training ground
for trail-runners in
particular …

28. RACE TO ROBIE CREEK
 “Toughest half-marathon in the
Northwest”
 Locals can train for Robie Creek on
foothills trails and Rocky Canyon
Road
 Race is limited to 2,100 participants
… sells out in 10 minutes online.
 BIG party afterwards
 Walking or running Robie Creek
should be on everyone’s bucket list

29. BOISE FOOTHILLS
 Open space, trails and wildlife
habitat in the Foothills have
been enhanced by the foothills
property tax levy in
2001, which raised $10 million.
 Since that time, about 11,000
acres have been protected with
a fair market value of $34
million.
 An study in 2011 showed that
foothills activities had a
positive economic impact of
$12 million in one year.

30. EAGLE FOOTHILLS
 The City of Eagle and mountain
bike volunteers have
instrumental in the
development of the Eagle Cycle
Park.
 The Cycle Park has a number of
gap jumps for riders who like to
catch BIG AIR, a dual slalom
course and a pump track for
kids.
 It’s a great place for kids to
build their mountain biking
skills.

31. GOLF IN THE TREASURE VALLEY
 Golf is hugely popular
in the Treasure Valley
 We have more than
12 golf courses to
enjoy in the valley
 Convenient access to
courses in
Nampa, Caldwell, Kun
a, Boise, Eagle and
Meridian
 Lots of business gets

32. THE IDAHO GOLF TRAIL
 Golf is hugely popular
in the Treasure Valley
 We have more than
12 golf courses to
enjoy in the valley
 Convenient access to
courses in
Nampa, Caldwell, Kun
a, Boise, Eagle and
Meridian
14 courses total
on the golf trail.
Banbury and
Falcon Crest
represent SW
Idaho on the
Idaho Golf Trail

33. ROAD BIKING IN SW IDAHO
 Popular activity for fitness and
long-distance rides…
 Kristin Armstrong trained on
Bogus Basin Road for her Gold
Metal victory in the Olympics.
 Tons of great road rides in the
valley, in the mountains, SW
Boise and Canyon County
 Boise Twilight Criterium – A
favorite annual event in
downtown Boise

34. WHITEWATER BOATING IN SW IDAHO
 The new Boise River Park
 The Payette River – North
Fork, South Fork, Main
Fork and Middle Fork
 Our desert rivers … the
Owyhee River and the
Bruneau River

35. WHITEWATER BOATING IN SW IDAHO
 Boise River Park
 Opened in 2012
 Best for kayaking and
surfing
 Wave-shaping technology
makes the play wave fun
at different water levels
 Allows boaters to play
and build skills close to
home

36. WHITEWATER BOATING IN SW IDAHO
 Payette River is an
excellent teaching river
 Main Fork starting in Banks
features Class 1, 2 and 3
whitewater features –
good for beginners on up.
 Kayakers and rafters start
on the “main” Payette and
build skills …

37. WHITEWATER BOATING IN SW IDAHO
 South Fork of the Payette
River is more pushy and
challenging …
 Boaters build skills on the
Lower South Fork, featuring
Bronco Billy, Staircase and
Slalom Rapids
 Then move on to the
“Canyon” section of the South
Fork – big day

38. WHITEWATER BOATING IN SW IDAHO
 Big Falls on the South Fork is a
scary and breath-taking spot
 25-foot multi-tiered waterfall
 Mandatory portage
 Outfitters and private boaters
know the drill …
 “Canyon” is a great team-
building trip for businesses with
adventuresome people

39. WHITEWATER BOATING IN SW IDAHO
 The mighty North Fork of the
Payette River …
 Crème de la crème of the
whitewater experience in
Idaho and the nation
 15 miles of continuous Class 5
rapids …
 More people are running the
North Fork than ever before …

40. WHITEWATER BOATING IN SW IDAHO
 The Bruneau River … now
protected as a national wild
and scenic river and
wilderness area
 3.5 hour-drive to the put-in
 35 miles in 3-4 days
 Guided trips available
 Very special place …

41. WHITEWATER BOATING IN SW IDAHO
 The Owyhee River in Idaho …
now protected as a national
wild and scenic river and
wilderness area
 2.5- to 4-hour drive to the
put-in
 East Fork, Three Forks to
Rome, Lower Owyhee
 Guided trips available
 Also, a very special place …

42. MORLEY NELSON SNAKE RIVER BIRDS OF PREY
NATIONAL CONSERVATION AREA
 Great place for spring
hiking, biking and camping
20 miles south of Kuna
 NCA is 485,000 acres,
canyon and the “dining
area” for birds of prey.
 800 pairs of hawks, owls,
eagles and falcons come
each spring to mate and
raise young.
 Boat tours available

43. CELEBRATION PARK – CANYON COUNTY
 Great place for spring
camping, hiking, biking, hors
eback riding, south of
Nampa
 Excellent educational site
re: Native American
petroglyphs and Bonneville
Flood
 Idaho’s first archaeological
park

44. IDAHO STATE PARKS – BRUNEAU DUNES
 South of Mountain Home
 Tallest dunes in North
America at 470 feet above
the Snake River Plain
 Great place for family
camping
 Observatory for learning
about stars

45. LAKES AND RESERVOIRS FOR BOATING – LUCKY PEAK
 Great place for power-
boating, windsurfing, saili
ng, water skiing, jet-
skiing, fishing and
camping
 Quick access - Spring
Shores Marina is 30
minutes from Boise
 928,788 total annual
visitors, including 350,000
boaters

46. LAKES AND RESERVOIRS FOR BOATING – LUCKY PEAK
 Nearly 1 million visits equates
to:
 $26.8 M in visitor spending in the
Treasure Valley
 228 spinoff jobs
 $9,258,627 in added value to
regional economy
 Source: Army Corps of Engineers
 Also, Arrowrock and Anderson
Ranch Reservoirs nearby

47. LAKES AND RESERVOIRS FOR BOATING – LAKE LOWELL
 Irrigation reservoir for Treasure
Valley farmers
 Great for pleasure
boating, windsurfing, sailing, fishing
and bird-watching
 Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge
borders the lake on south side …
 250 bird species and 30 mammal
species visit the refuge on an annual
basis
 Recreation management issues are
being worked out w/refuge staff.

48. LAKES AND RESERVOIRS FOR BOATING – LAKE CASCADE
 Irrigation reservoir for
Payette River Valley farmers
 Great for pleasure boating,
windsurfing, sailing, fishing,
camping, canoeing, lake
kayaking and bird-watching
 Big lake! 4th largest in Idaho …
47 square miles
 Part of Lake Cascade State Park
 Popular with anglers … bass,
perch and big rainbows

49. LAKES AND RESERVOIRS FOR BOATING – LAKE CASCADE
 Lake Cascade State Park has 9
developed campgrounds
 232 individual campsites
 Great place for camping with
kids
 Important economic driver for
cities of Cascade and Donnelly
 Annual visition: 300,000+

50. LAKES AND RESERVOIRS FOR BOATING – PAYETTE LAKE
 Beautiful and refreshing place
to go when the Teasure Valley
gets hot in July and August
 Great for water-
skiing, windsurfing, jet
skiing, sailing and canoeing
 Home to Ponderosa State Park
– super popular place to camp
 Great amenities – boat
ramp, swimming, hiking and
biking

51. FLOATING THE BOISE RIVER
 Over 10,000 people float the
Boise River on a hot summer
day
 Fun activity for
teens, singles, kids and
families from June – August
 6-mile trip from Barber Park
 Rentals and shuttles available

52. FISHING
 Boise River is open to fishing
year-round
 Lucky Peak keeps the water
cold for trout all summer long
 Can catch nice
rainbows, whitefish and
brown trout
 Fish and Game stocks excess
chinook salmon and steelhead
in the river seasonally – BIG
BONUS for people in Boise

53. FISHING
 S. Fork Boise River is “secret” spot; Silver Creek near S.V. world-class fishing

54. HIKING AND BACKPACKING – WORLD CLASS
 Sawtooths and
White Clouds near
Stanley
 Payette National
Forest
 Hundreds of high-
mountain lakes for
camping and fishing
 Awesome scenery

55. WILDERNESS WHITEWATER VACATIONS - WORLD CLASS
 Middle Fork Salmon
River
 Main Salmon and
Lower Salmon River
 Selway River
 Hells Canyon
 Dream vacation

56. FALL ACTIVITIES
 Hells Canyon “cast and blast”
 38-mile float trip over 3-5 days
 Guided trips available
 Catch tons of rainbows and
bass
 Hunt chukar partridge
 Camp with your friends

57. DEER & ELK HUNTING
 Favorite activities in the fall
 Many places to hunt in the Boise
National Forest, Owyhee
Mountains and Payette National
Forest
 Guided trips available
 Successful hunters have freezer full
of nutritious and tasty meat for the
year

58. WINTER ACTIVITIES
 Bogus Basin – our favorite
nonprofit local ski resort
 Quick access - 30-45 minutes
from Boise
 Typically more than 300,000
skier visits per year
 37 K’s of xc ski trails
 Awesome tubing hill

59. WINTER ACTIVITIES
 Idaho City Park n’ Ski
Areas & Backcountry
Yurts
 1.5 hours from Boise
 50+ miles of xc ski and
snowshoe trails
 6 backcountry yurts
available for rent
 Reasonably priced
 Accessible for all abilities

60. WINTER ACTIVITIES – SUN VALLEY
 World-class alpine skiing
experience
 Awesome parks and pipes
at Dollar Mtn
 200 K’s of Nordic skiing …
also world-class
 Plus backcountry skiing at
Galena and in the
Sawtooths
 Helicopter skiing

61. WINTER ACTIVITIES – MCCALL
 McCall Winter
Carnival
 Skiing at Brundage
Mountain
 Over 100K’s of Nordic
skiing … also world-
class
 Backcountry skiing at
Lick Creek Summit
 World-class
Snowmobiling

62. WINTER ACTIVITIES – HOT SPRINGS
 SW Idaho has
LOTS of hot
springs
 Primitive and
Developed
 It’s a unique asset
… Idaho has more
natural, soakable
hot springs than
any other state

63. WRAP UP
 We are blessed …
 It’s no wonder Outside magazine
named Boise its No. 1 "Dream
Town"
 We’re consistently in the top 10
of Forbes lists as a great place to
work, live and play
 We all know it … does the rest of
America know it? Still have to
overcome the almighty Idaho
spud

64. WRAP UP
 Parks, pathways, recreation and
open space are important
economic assets for Idaho …
 Need to continue to educate our
policy makers about this …
 Latest Outdoor Industry study
showed that outdoor recreation
generates 76,700 jobs in Idaho
and $6.3 billion in consumer
spending … that’s big!

65. WRAP UP
 Let’s keep growing our outdoor
recreation amenities … it strengthens
our communities, improves our
economy and quality of life, enhances
our fitness and, most of all, it’s FUN!
 More to be done:
 Let’s realize the vision of a Greenbelt
along the Boise River from Boise to
Parma
 Expand greenbelts in Nampa &
Caldwell

66. WRAP UP
 The Idaho Legislature’s talk
about state management of
federal lands might work for
timber management, but it
won’t work for recreation and
open space …
 Idahoans value the Boise
National Forest, Payette National
Forest and BLM lands for public
access, hunting, fishing, wildlife
values and open space.

67. WRAP UP
 We need our congressional
delegation to go to bat for
recreation $$ on Idaho’s national
forests and BLM lands … just like
they do for the timber industry
and the livestock grazing …
 We may need to look at another
open space levy for the Boise
Foothills … we’re almost out of
money & have more work to do
 Need more services in Owyhee
County.

68. WRAP UP
 In the meantime, enjoy our
parks and recreation
amenities in SW Idaho …
 We have the best base camp
in America
 Thank you!