Charles F. McDevitt Youth Sports Complex Master Plan FAQ

Master Plan Update

Frequently Asked Questions and Answers (Updated February 2024) 

1. What funds are available for the park and what can they be used for? 

We are anticipating the collection of approximately $1.2 million in impact fees to add new park amenities in the coming years. Some of this funding could be available as early as 2025. 

Impact fee dollars are fees collected through development and growth and come with several stipulations. These funds cannot be used to replace any existing park features or amenities. The purpose of these funds is to add new amenities to serve community growth.  

Separate funding sources can be available to replace or improve existing amenities and your feedback associated with master plan updates, like this one, will help inform future improvements. The skate park at McDevitt is an example of an existing amenity that would utilize a different funding source for future replacement. 

2. What are impact fees? Are my taxes going to go up? 

Impact fees are charges assessed for the impact that new development has on the City of Boise’s regional parks, local parks, fire response system, and policing system. All projects funded by impact fees must meet new service demands associated with growth in population. These fees are assessed for new development only.  

The impact fees for the McDevitt master plan update project are already being collected and do not affect your taxes.  

3. What kind of amenities are feasible with a budget of $1.2 million? 

In the current market, construction costs can fluctuate. We anticipate the project budget of $1.2 million can fund a range of amenities, depending on the scope of each selected amenity. For this reason, our design team suggested a variety of medium to small-scale budget-driven amenity options in the first outreach survey. However, the scale of some proposed amenities may change as bids and estimated costs could fluctuate. Larger-scale amenities proposed by residents like a pool or full-scale splash pad are not feasible within the anticipated project budget. 

4. The word “Youth” is in the name of the park. Does that mean any new amenities have to be designed for youth? 

Charles F. McDevitt Youth Sports Complex is named in honor of Chuck McDevitt, a former Chief Justice of the Idaho Supreme Court who believed that “keeping young people busy with work and play keeps them out of trouble.” McDevitt was known as a life-long advocate of public parks and recreation. The park was named McDevitt to honor his contributions and commitment to youth recreation and open space access. The park name does not require all park amenities to exclusively serve youth sports or youth in general. Any new park amenities can serve a variety of age groups and user interests. 

5. Can a library or other community education facility be built at the park? 

Per the Quit Claim Deed adopted by Boise City Council in 1994, the 40-acre property must be used “in perpetuity for outdoor recreation under the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965,” limiting the ability for an indoor library to be built on the property. For this reason, Boise Parks and Recreation is focusing the master plan update to identify possible outdoor recreation amenities in the undeveloped 10-acre portion of the park. 

6. Why can’t the existing skate park or playground be updated during this process? 

Impact fees must be used for new amenities, they cannot be spent on repairs or replacement of existing features. However, we have heard community feedback desiring these updates, and will evaluate the possibility of future alternative funding options. This includes exploring potential community partnerships to improve these already existing park amenities. 

7. 'Designated Sports Courts’ was the top choice amenity for its category (Amenities in the $200K - $400K Price Range) within the initial feedback survey. Is pickleball being considered? 

While pickleball was a popular request, multiple considerations do not make this site an option for new pickleball courts. Budget limitations and the proximity of homes to the potential court location are not desirable for this particular use. In addition, 12 dedicated pickleball courts are located less than two miles away from Charles F. McDevitt Youth Sports Complex, at Hobble Creek Park. 

Examples of what the designated sports courts could be include bocce, a half basketball court, or volleyball court. An assessment of nearby locations shows these type of sport courts are not available at other nearby park locations. 

8. Eagle Road is the busiest road in Idaho; are there plans to improve traffic safety and access into/out of the park? 

Impact fees will not be allocated to improvements outside of the park. This specific project budget is for new amenities in and around the undeveloped 10-acre area of the park, located in the northeast corner.  

Roadway improvements or improvements to road crossings would require other agency approvals such as Ada County Highway District or Idaho Transportation Department. Please note we have heard your concerns and are committed to working with other transportation stakeholders to address safety concerns on site. Our team of designers will also be mindful of the proposed placement of any new pathways or park amenities with safety top of mind. 

9. The parking lot fills up when tournaments are held at the park. Are there plans to add additional parking? 

Charles F. McDevitt Youth Sports Complex currently has 296 parking spots. During busy sports season weekends, the parking lots can fill. Because most weekdays and evenings are usually not at capacity, there are not currently any plans to add more parking to the site. Our team works closely with Little League members to manage parking and encourage park-goers not to park in surrounding neighborhoods when possible. 

10. What are the next steps? Will there be more opportunity for community feedback? 

Thank you to those who have participated in the outreach process so far; our team values your feedback and is now preparing a final design proposal following a second survey.

Following this second round of public input, the city’s landscape architects are working to finalize a master plan design. This design update will be presented to the Boise Parks and Recreation Commission, where a public hearing will follow a presentation from staff. The Board of Commissioners will then vote on the updated master plan. Details for the April meeting are listed below.

Boise Parks and Recreation Commission – Monthly Meeting
4 p.m. on Thursday, April 18
Boise City Hall (Zoom participation available)