Gordon S. Bowen Park has a playground, drinking fountains and bike racks.
Hours of Operation
Park is open from sunrise to sunset.
Location
1013 W. O'Farrell St.
Parking
There is on street parking available.
Features & Amenities
Playground
Playground is for ages 2-5 and 5-12. There are no swingsets available. The playground surface is wood chips.
Smoking Prohibition
Smoking and vaping are prohibited in all City of Boise parks, including within 20 feet of the Boise River Greenbelt, except in designated areas within Ann Morrison and Julia Davis Parks and at city-owned golf courses.
Towing
Unauthorized vehicles will be towed at owner's risk and expense. You can contact Boise Valley Towing by calling (208) 389-9707.
Master Plan
The Master Plan is a concept drawing illustrating recreation facilities and landscape features planned for a park site. It does not necessarily represent what amenities are currently in a park.
About Gordon S. Bowen Park
Gordon Shakleton Bowen was born on October 17, 1915, in Washington, D.C., the second youngest of five children. The son of a geologist, Gordon spent much of his childhood on the move, following his father’s work from the capital to Ridgewood, New Jersey, then into New York City, and eventually to Flushing, New York. He graduated from Flushing High School in 1934.
Driven by a deep interest in the natural world, Gordon enrolled at the New York State College of Forestry at Syracuse University, completing his degree in 1938. He continued his studies at the Harvard School of Design, pursuing landscape architecture. His graduate work was cut short when he suffered a collapsed lung during his second year. While recovering in the hospital, he met Emma Austin, the head nurse on his floor. Their connection grew quickly, and the two were married in January 1940.
Gordon was inducted into the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in January 1943, completing two and a half years of basic training at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. After the war, Gordon and Emma moved west, settling in Boise in 1947. The following year, he joined the City of Boise Public Works Department, beginning a seven‑year tenure in the engineering division. His dedication and skill led him to the role of Assistant City Engineer.
Gordon served as Director of Parks and Recreation until his retirement in March 1978, guiding Boise through more than two decades of growth and transformation. Winstead Park became the first park dedicated under his leadership, marking the beginning of a new era of public green spaces. It was also Gordon who persuaded the City Council to adopt an aggressive program of acquiring and developing neighborhood parks throughout Boise — a shift in policy that permanently reshaped the city’s landscape. His vision extended to the Boise River as well, where he played a role in the early efforts that would evolve into today’s Boise River Greenbelt, one of the city’s most defining features. He is also the author of Boise's Parks: A Cause and a Trust.
Gordon S. Bowen Park was acquired with funds from the Federal Housing and Urban Development's Model Cities Program. It was developed in 1983 and dedicated as Gordon S. Bowen Park on April 23, 1991.