Along with designing and building great public spaces, the city supports public space and placemaking activation programs and initiatives. These initiatives focus on temporarily transforming public spaces in ways that engage the community and highlight various uses for that space. A few examples of public space activation programs include Open Streets, neighborhood block parties, Parklets, Park(ing) Day, asphalt art, parking lot activations and more.
Current Public Space Activation Programs
Open Streets
Open Streets is a global initiative that focuses on temporarily converting streets to car-free spaces. There are various names across the world for this type of event, including Ciclovia and Sunday Parkways.
The City of Boise is sponsoring Open Streets Boise 2026, led by Boise Bicycle Project, which will take place on Sunday, September 27 along Catalpa Drive in Boise’s Collister neighborhood. Open Streets Boise will transform Catalpa Drive – from Collister Drive to 36th Street – to a car-free, activated public space for the day. Join us and community partners to experience this family-friendly event, where people of all ages and abilities can safely walk, bike, and roll and participate in various activities and festivities along the route.
Park(ing) Day
Join the City of Boise’s Mobility and Public Spaces team and community partners for Park(ing) Day in downtown Boise, where parking spaces are transformed into temporary parklets for the community to enjoy. This annual global event invites people to reimagine how public space can be used by converting curbside parking into places for art, play, and community connection.
The event takes place each year in September. Participating organizations have included the City of Boise, Downtown Boise Association, AIA Central Idaho, Stack Rock Group, Boise Bicycle Project, Valley Regional Transit, ACHD Commuteride and more.
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