Veterans Park Neighborhood Association

Boise Parks and Recreation will be discussing plans for Esther Simplot Park, as well as, taking comments at a public meeting: 5:30pm, Thursday December 1 at Whittier Elementary School, 301 N. 29th Street.

If you are unable to attend you can submit your comments, send them to Wendy Larimore at Boise Parks and Recreation: wlarimore@cityofboise.org, or call 608-7636.

VPNA November board meeting minutes are now available under the documents tab at vpnaboise.org. These also discuss VPNA’s input to the project.

Thanks to Stan and Jo at Idaho River Sports for their continued support of VPNA. Click on the image below for more information about a special sale/fundraiser for us…

PROPOSED SIMPLOT PARK PLAN SUBJECT OF UPCOMING PUBLIC MEETING
A proposed plan for the Esther Simplot Community Park shows expanded ponds and a meandering stream. Natural and paved pathways weave through grassy areas, across bridges and around islands and picnic shelters.

Boise Parks and Recreation will discuss these plans and take comments at a public meeting: 5:30pm, Thursday December 1 at Whittier Elementary School, 301 N. 29th Street.

For more information, or to see the full plan, click here. If you are unable to attend to submit your comments, send them to Wendy Larimore at Boise Parks and Recreation: wlarimore@cityofboise.org, or call 608-7636.

A few pictures from the Whitewater Park Construction Party. Thanks to Idaho River Sports for hosting the event, McAlvain Construction for offering tours and Capital High School for making a model that brought the project to life.

Above – Capital High School students created this model of the whitewater park.

Above: Next generation testing out the 2 adjustable wave shapers

Above: Cross-section of crest control mechanism. Height of crest controlled by black air bladder.

Above: Walter McBrier, the McAlvain Construction project manager, at the project site where the Boise River has been diverted through Quinn’s Pond. Steel wall is being driven into river channel to prevent undermining of the new diversion dam and wave shapers.

Above: Crane sitting in Boise River Channel downstream of the new diversion dam. The play waves will be located near location of crane. Equipment should be out of river by January 1st.

Everyone is invited to a “Construction Party” being hosted by McAlvain Construction, the City of Boise, and Idaho River Sports this Saturday (11/12/11). This is a celebration of Phase 1 construction of the Boise River Recreation Park.

Location: Idaho River Sports
Time: 10 am to 2 pm.

Walter McBrier, the McAlvain Construction project manager, will be there in the morning to give tours and answer questions about project and the construction. Since it is a construction site, anyone taking the tour is required to wear closed toe shoes and a limited number of hardhats and vests will be available for each tour. Come early to make sure you get on a tour of the site! If you haven’t seen it the construction site is truly something, the Boise River has been diverted through Quinn’s Pond leaving the river channel dry and under construction.

You will also have the opportunity to see the “waveshapper model” built by Centennial High School students, which demonstrates how the waveshapper will provide water to irrigators while also providing an adjustable wave for playing on the river in kayaks, surf boards, canoes and inner tubes. Walt, Friends of the River Park, and Boise City Park and Rec Staff will be on hand to discuss this exciting project. Idaho River sports will be providing hot chili and hot apple cider to warm you up after the tour. Call 336-4844 for more information.

We obtained an early copy of the Esther Simplot Park Master Plan – very exciting. It doesn’t look like the city has posted anything better on their website yet but better copies will be available soon. For a bigger version of the plan click on the picture to bring up the full pdf version.

The 30th Street Area Master Plan is scheduled for hearing by the City Council on November 15, 2011.

Council hearings begin at 6:00 PM.

Following this link to the plan