The Park at Expo Idaho transforms a former racehorse track into an 88-acre riverside park that prioritizes urban biodiversity, year-round active recreation, and nature-based play.
ADA COUNTY, IDAHO
The Park at Expo Idaho
Garden City, ID
In order to set a new precedent for riverside recreation within the Boise region, the design for The Park at Expo Idaho is rooted in an aspiration to maximize both PLAY VALUE and ECOLOGICAL VALUE. The park is envisioned in two regions — the Heart of the Park and the Lowlands. The Heart of the Park is a 25-acre area of intensive active recreation, fitness, and play, as well as a venue for events and education opportunities. It is envisioned as the new Civic Core of Garden City and Boise.
Complimenting the Heart of the Park are over 60 acres of parkland devoted to the lowlands, a nature-based recreation landscape that prioritizes high ecological value and expanded urban biodiversity. More than five miles of trails wind and weave through 7 distinct landscape types, allowing park users to experience and engage microcosms of many of the Treasure Valley’s most valuable ecosystems.
COLLABORATORS
Architect: Marlon Blackwell Architects
Ecological Engineering + Land Planning: Great Ecology
Civil Engineering: NV5
Park Planning + Operations: PROS Consulting
Cost Estimation: Dharam Consulting
AWARDS
Expo Idaho Design Competition
SERVICES
Landscape Planning + Design
Landscape Architecture
Existing Conditions
The Park at Expo Idaho sits on a former racehorse track at the edge of the Boise River, adjacent to the site of the Western Idaho State Fair. Before being raised and leveled for the Les Bois horse racing park, much of this land was a braided channel of the Boise River.
Surrounding Context
Located along the Boise River, The Park at Expo Idaho will play an important role in extending the region’s investment in high quality public spaces and pedestrian connectivity systems. Our approach is inspired by the profound complexity of the Boise River watershed and the extensive connectivity of the Boise Greenbelt.
Site Development Strategy
Our strategy for the design of a new public park is rooted in an aspiration to maximize both the PLAY VALUE and the ECOLOGICAL VALUE of the park in order to set a new precedent for riverside recreation within the Boise region.
Site Overview
The Park at Expo Idaho is envisioned as the new Civic Core of Garden City and Boise. The park is envisioned in two regions — the HEART OF THE PARK and the LOWLANDS.
North Lobe
Anchoring the park is a 25-acre area we call the HEART OF THE PARK. The north lobe of this area mixes courts for basketball, pickleball, and tennis with areas for bocce, shuffleboard, and outdoor fitness.
North Loop + Sports Courts
The entire north lobe of the HEART OF THE PARK is wrapped by a .75-mile soft-surface running circuit dotted by trail-heads connecting the lobe to the extensive path network of the LOWLANDS area of the park.
Grandstand +
Pump Track
The north lobe is also anchored by a renovated grandstand that includes new fitness facilities, concession and comfort venues, weather-protected rock climbing, small-scale sports-related retail, and the opportunity for a destination restaurant/event space for revenue creation.The grandstand offers views of the Range and overlooks a new destination pump track.
North Loop Ice Rink
Portions of the running trail that surrounds the north lobe can be flooded and used as a winter skating circuit to ensure year-round activity.
South Lobe
The south lobe of the HEART OF THE PARK is envisioned to house a mix of programs that are specifically oriented towards the existing Garden City community. The south lobe is anchored by a multigenerational Destination Playground (southwest corner) and a Wheel Sports Garden (southeast corner).
Entry Plaza + Destination Playground
Comprising a major water-feature play surface, a 1.25-acre adventure playground, and generous areas of seating for public collection and socializing. This portion of the HEART OF THE PARK functions as a destination gateway between the new park grounds and the growing Garden City Community.
Wheel Sports Garden
Comprising 2-acres, the Wheel Sports Garden is a multi-wheel facility that is ideal for skateboards, roller blades, non-electric scooters, and BMX bikes. The Wheel Sports Gardens is more inclusive and animated than a traditional skate park and includes areas for seating, a small picnic pavilion, and comfort facilities.
South Loop
Similar to the north lobe, the south lobe is also wrapped by a .75-mile multi-use circuit. However, rather than a loop designed for speed and sport, this is a slower, more casual circuit that offers areas for seating and rest, interpretive signage, and trailhead connections to the LOWLANDS area of the park.
The Lowlands
Complementing the Heart of the Park are over 60 acres of parkland devoted to the LOWLANDS, a nature-based recreation landscape that prioritizes high ecological value and expanded urban biodiversity.
Water as the Start
A series of creek beds that cut through the LOWLANDS convey water into the main filtration wetland system and topographic manipulations across the park create dynamic landscapes while shifting the current 100 year floodplain in a way that protects the HEART OF THE PARK from large flood events by creating room for the river.
Dry Creek Bed
Decades of horse racing have left the site with little ecological value—the formerly broad riparian corridor is now confined; former watercourses through the site are highly disconnected; and the soil is heavily compacted and in need of remediation. The re-naturalization process is designed to begin in the water courses and grow outwards.
Wetlands
Transitioning from this degraded landscape to one that supports wildlife, hosts a diverse range of species, and improves water quality requires a long-term vision. The outcome of such work will be an ever-changing landscape of natural character that captures the imagination of visitors and grows into the green core of Garden City.
The Park at Expo Idaho is an AND project, not an OR project: Ecological Performance and Economic Growth; Active Recreation and Nature-Based Play; Community Park and Regional Destination.
