People who live in Idaho enjoy various recreational activities available here in the valley and across the state. One of the hallmarks of the Treasure Valley is its parks. The region’s cities take pride in their parks, designing them to offer a diverse array of activities and amenities for residents and visitors to enjoy.
Today, we’re introducing the Boise Area Parks Guide, a tour of some of the more famous parks across the valley. Some of these parks were also featured in our Guide to Treasure Valley Area Dog Parks. Read on to learn more about some of these great parks.
Boise Area Parks Guide
Boise
The City of Boise is home to over 120 city parks, all with their own distinct amenities. Perhaps the most well-known of these parks is Ann Morrison Park. Ann Morrison Park is situated on 153 acres near downtown. The park features bocce courts, a disc golf course, horseshoe pits, an outdoor gym, volleyball courts, a playground, tennis courts, softball fields, soccer, cricket, and football fields, as well as a fountain. It also has a great dog park.
Ann Morrison Park is also the home of the Boise Zoo and hosts renowned events such as the Boise Balloon Classic and Fourth of July Fireworks. There’s also a paddleboat pond in the park.
Another popular set of parks are Bernadine Quinn Riverside Park and Esther Simplot Park. Both parks are located close to one another. Bernadine Quinn Riverside Park is home to Quinn’s Pond, a popular location for swimming, fishing, kayaking, and paddleboarding.
Esther Simplot Park is a 55-acre site with roughly 23 acres of ponds that are good for fishing and swimming. The park has several open play areas, wetlands, and a playground.
We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention Boise Whitewater Park located in Esther Simplot Park. This park features adjustable waves, challenging people to surf and kayak the Boise River.
Caldwell
The City of Caldwell has 12 city parks for residents and visitors to enjoy. Pipe Dream Park is the area’s largest park, containing 54 acres of space. The park includes a BMX Track, multiple softball fields, a playground, and a skate park.
Luby Park is a 12-acre facility that features a playground, tennis courts, a rose garden, two basketball half courts, a baseball field, and a sand volleyball court.
The third park we’ll highlight is Memorial Park, located on the corner of Kimball and Grant Streets. This facility is 15 acres and has a playground, tennis courts, a municipal swimming pool, a sand volleyball court, a basketball court, a skateboard park, and a couple of lighted ballfields.
Eagle
The City of Eagle has eight city-managed parks for residents and visitors to enjoy.
Reid W. Merrill Sr. Community Park is a frequently visited park given its proximity to the Greenbelt and Boise River. This park has basketball courts, a playground, volleyball courts, a pond, a splash pad, and walking paths.
Another park worthy of your visit is Stephen C. Guerber Park, located off Hill Road. Guerber Park has a fantastic playground as well as a large splash pad area. It also has a couple of picnic shelters, a sand volleyball court, and a baseball/softball field.
The Ada/Eagle Sports Complex is a facility for those who enjoy basketball and bike riding. This park features biking trails as well as a giant skateboard park and a BMX bike course. The park even has its own interactive map.
Meridian
The City of Meridian boasts 25 parks divided into six distinct categories: Regional Parks, Community Parks, Neighborhood Parks, Mini Parks, Special Use Parks, and Sports Parks.
The first park we’ll highlight is the new Discovery Park, a regional park located in south Meridian. Discovery Park is being built in multiple phases, with the second phase scheduled to commence construction sometime in 2022.
Discovery Park features a playground with multiple structures, rolling slides, a splash pad area, a zip line, a sand and water play area, climbing rocks, a climbing wall, and softball fields. The facility has multiple picnic shelters, as well.
Plans for phase two were recently presented to the Meridian City Council, and attractions include pickleball courts, a BMX bike track, basketball courts, and multipurpose fields that can be used for lacrosse, football, soccer, and softball.
The next stop on our tour of Meridian parks is Settlers Park. Conveniently located off Ustick and Meridian Roads, Settlers Park, a regional park, offers visitors access to various amenities and activities. These include tennis courts, horseshoe pits, play structures, a splash pad, baseball and softball fields, and a winter disc golf course (open mid-November through the end of February). Settlers Park also features a pond for fishing.
A community park worth checking out is Hillsdale Park in south Meridian. The Park features a tractor-themed play structure, splash pad, lots of open green space, picnic shelters, and a walking/bike path that includes fitness stations.
Nampa
The City of Nampa, located just west of Meridian, is home to 27 area parks.
The oldest park in Nampa is Lakeview Park. Boasting more than 44 acres in size, Lakeview offers a variety of activities for visitors to enjoy. It has an amphitheater, baseball/softball fields, a BMX track, a duck pond, basketball courts, horseshoe pits, a sand volleyball court, a rose garden, and a community swimming pool. It also has a couple of picnic shelters that can be reserved, as well.
West Park is another park that’s a favorite of area residents and visitors. It has multiple softball fields, a playground, a sand volleyball court, horseshoe pits, a basketball court, and disc golf. It also has a fitness pathway.
The last park we’ll visit for this guide is Lions Park which the Lions Club established in 1952. Recreational enthusiasts and families frequent the park. It has tennis courts that can also function as pickleball courts, a swimming pool, softball field, baseball fields, a playground, and a basketball court.
The Last Word
As you can see, the Boise area has lots of parks that provide ample recreational opportunities for area residents and visitors. While this guide is by no means exhaustive, it does highlight some of the more prominent facilities worth visiting.
