America the Beautiful

The City of Boise is proud to join leading conservation organizations, National Geographic, the Biden-Harris administration, and other government agencies in a global effort to support our environment. This effort is called America the Beautiful. The goal is to conserve at least 30 percent of land and water all over the world by 2030. It’s an ambitious undertaking, but one that will help protect clean drinking water sources, combat the negative impacts of climate change, protect endangered species and more.

Now is the time to act to create real and lasting change. By creating a set of America the Beautiful goals unique to Boise, we are directly preserving native habitat in our open spaces, managing park properties to promote pollinators, increasing the city’s tree canopy and promote healthy soils – all while protecting the Boise River for generations to come.

2023 Report

Our Goals and How We're Getting There

Open Space

1. Manage 30% of open space and native habitat areas by using science-based land management actions to build resistant, resilient ecosystems in the Boise Foothills and along the Boise River.

  • Plant native species and support habitat restoration work (example: native plant enhancement in Foothills East Reserve)
  • Protect trees and vegetation along the Boise River corridor (example: Boise Parks and Recreation has doubled the acres of actively managed riparian habitat along the Boise River Greenbelt since 2020)
Boise River
Boise River

Park Sites

2. Increase by 30% actively managed native habitat areas in improved park sites.

Dandelion Harvesting in the park
Dandelion Fest

Fundraising

3. Raise a total of $30 million to protect more open space and clean water resources and enhance community restoration projects.

  • Raise additional $10 million to protect property in the Boise Foothills for generations to come (example: Boise Foothills levies that have already raised $20 million toward this goal)
  • In 2023, four Open Space and Clean Water Improvements Projects were funded using levy funds (example: the 3-acre linear park and pathway along W. Goddard Road, or the community goathead removal map)
Goatheads in a bucket
Goatheads Collection

Engagement

4. Grow our engagement opportunities by 30% to provide meaningful experiences for community members.

  • Caring for Parks Volunteer Opportunities (examples: City Nature Challenge, Pollinator Posse, Adopt-the-Greenbelt, the Rose Garden, Boise in Bloom)
  • Open Space Volunteer Opportunities (examples: Boise Urban Garden School volunteers, AmeriCorps team members, Weed Warriors, Ridge to Rivers trail service projects, Adopt-a-Habitat)
  • Boise Parks and Recreation had over 2,000 participants contribute to project in 2023
Group of people pulling goatheads
Pollinator Posse

Tree Canopy

5. Increase tree canopy cover in Boise to 30% through the Elaine Clegg City of Trees Challenge

  • Through the Elaine Clegg City of Trees Challenge, 1,800 trees were planted in Boise in 2023 (over 16,848 trees have been planted in Boise since 2020)
  • Identify planting locations and provide planting assistance to communities in Boise that need trees the most
Tree Planting
Tree Planting

Other Resources

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For other after hours park related emergencies (i.e. irrigation issues, restrooms), please call (208) 489-6640.