This purchase was approved by Boise City Council on Tuesday, March 11, 2025.
Boise Parks and Recreation is proposing the acquisition of a future neighborhood park property centrally located on the West Bench. The 0.66-acre piece of land, which is located between Northview Street and Fairview Avenue off Allumbaugh Street, has the potential to make a big impact in a currently underserved part of the city.
The Boise City Council will decide whether to use Open Space and Clean Water Levy funds to purchase the .66-acre parcel at its upcoming meeting on Tuesday, March 11.
In the last eight years, the City of Boise has made great strides, with support from Mayor Lauren McLean and members of the Boise City Council, to increase the percentage of residents who can safely walk to a park or open space within 10 minutes from 60 to 73 percent. That’s an addition of more than 30,000 residents who have 10-minute access to a park or open space in our city without using a vehicle.
“This benchmark continues to drive our community investments to increase park access and thoughtfully grow the city’s park and pathways system,” said Mayor McLean. “We are committed to meeting our 10-Minute Walk to a Park goal and this property acquisition gets us another percentage point – and 4,000 residents - closer to that mark.”
The proposed park site would offer 4,034 residents from 1,950 households on the West Bench the ability to access a neighborhood park within a 10-minute walk. The surrounding neighborhoods are currently considered a high priority area for new park access. The closest park to this location, Winstead Park, is about a 15-minute walk away. That means the proposed park site off N. Fry Street would serve almost entirely new additions to the city’s 10-Minute Walk to a Park goal.
The property is located in a densely populated residential neighborhood that has limited access to outdoor recreation space. The current owners are deeply rooted Boiseans and longtime supporters of environmental protection — the site holds deep sentimental value for them. Members of the Clark family are excited to see the space used as a revitalized resource for the community, providing access to not only green space, but improved mental health and community connections on the West Bench. When approached by the city about the potential for a partnership, the family was excited to see their parents’ land used in such a special way.
“Park and open space property preservation is more important than ever as our city grows and evolves,” said Boise Parks and Recreation Director Doug Holloway. “Our team is working hard to find land in underserved areas of our city, and along with the relationships built, this is an example of creating access with a high return on community investment.”
If approved by council members, the city would purchase the property from the private property owner for $550,000, which includes anticipated closing costs. The agreed upon purchase price is under market value. There is approximately $2.2 million available in the Open Space and Clean Water Levy fund prior to this purchase.
Boise Parks and Recreation team members will work with the community to develop a park master plan in the future should the land be purchased. There is currently no timeline for development. Additionally, the department will work to safely remove an aging structure on the property as plans develop.
To learn more about Boise’s 10-Minute Walk to a Park goal and other park projects in the works, visit the city’s website.
