Parks

The city of Weiser is hoping to transform its park land to create a space that brings more people together.

The abundance of parks and lakes in the Mountain West has benefits for the environment and makes the area more desirable to visit. And these spaces – especially when located in a city – can also work wonders for health.

Playing at the park, on the swings or slide, is a regular part of childhood for most kids. But for those who do not have access to a park with the right kind of equipment playtime can be a challenge.

In 2020, the City of Boise implemented what it then called a Pesticide Use Reduction Pilot Program. To say the “pilot” has taken off is an understatement. The city has since reduced its use of pesticides by nearly 50%.

For kids who use wheelchairs, finding a park they can access can be challenging. One Berthoud mom is fundraising to create an inclusive park where everyone can play side by side.

Ada County Parks and Waterways manages a wide variety of spots, including 11 miles of the Greenbelt and the launching point for 125,000 people who float the Boise River each year. The department is putting together a new long-term plan and they want to hear from you about what to do with the properties they manage.

Demand for places to play pickleball is up, especially in Meridian, and in response the city got together with the owners of a local apartment complex to build four new pickleball courts at Kleiner Memorial Park.

National Park Service rangers are being stretched dangerously thin, according to a new report. The advocacy group Public Employees for Environmental Policy found that the number of permanent law enforcement officers has dropped 15% since 2005. Seasonal officers are down 30% in the same time period.

Climbing a tree is a natural instinct if you’re, say, 7- or 8-years old … or possibly an arborist. But Canopy Watch, a Boise-based nonprofit which promotes “the power of trees,” wants to get more of us aloft. And while the view is breathtaking, their mission is much greater.

As tourism booms and crowds grow, the Navajo Nation considers reopening its parks and some states charge non-residents more for entry.