Community Voice Boise Pathways Master Plan - City of Boise
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Boise Pathways Master Plan Community Voice
2021 Boise Pathways Master Plan
COMMUNITY VOICE
OVERVIEW
Hearing from people who live, work, and play in Boise was critical in identifying
opportunities, challenges, and goals for the pathway system. Input and ideas were
solicited both online and in-person, collected via an online survey, online interactive
map, and smaller community discussions. This chapter summarizes what we heard.
ONLINE SURVEY WEB MAP COMMUNITY MEETINGS
• Open for 5 weeks • Open for 5 weeks • 4 events with ±20
• 2,169 respondents • 1,039 suggestions drawn participants at each
ONLINE SURVEY
Over a period of five weeks, over 2,000 people responded to an online survey geared
toward understanding how and why people use the Boise pathways. This 13-question
survey sought information about how people currently use pathways, what prevents
more pathway use, and what more pathway connections would mean to Boiseans.
OUTCOMES & LESSONS LEARNED
A large number of survey responses provided a better understanding for how the
community currently uses Boise’s pathway system, and what challenges they encounter
in using it. The following points are some key themes pulled from the survey results:
• Participants use existing pathways for recreation more than transportation, but
almost 40 percent still use pathways for transportation at least three times a week.
• Participants primarily use pathways to access destinations such as Downtown,
restaurants and entertainment, and parks or other recreational spaces.
• Limited access to pathways, pathways that feel unsafe due to adjacent vehicular
traffic, and no pathways that reach needed destinations limits participants pathway
use.
• Most students are driven to school by a parent; 31 percent walk, bike, or roll.
The following pages break down the overall survey demographic reach and results.
2021 Boise Pathways Master Plan
COMMUNITY VOICE
SURVEY PARTICIPANT DEMOGRAPHICS
AGE OF RESPONDENTS HOUSEHOLD SIZE HOUSEHOLD
DESCRIPTION
12% 37%
800 737
700
46%
Two + adults without children
600 569 living at home, under 65
523
500
400 17% 36%
300 Two + adults with children
17%
289
living at home
200
100
0
5
41
2 6% 13%
3%
Single/two adults over 65
+
+
9
9
8
3
4
5
80
9%
-4
-7
r1
-2
-6
-3
65
36
18
50
de
24
Un
Single adult under 65
RESPONDENTS ZIP CODES
3%
Survey responses came from all over the Treasure Valley, Single adult with children
with most responses coming from people living in the North living at home
End/Downtown area and Southeast Boise. Map 3.1 illustrates
survey responses by zip code. 3%
Other
RELATION TO BOISE HOUSEHOLD INCOME
$20-
40K $0-20K
$40-60K
$100K+
$60-80K
57% 34% 8% $80-
Live in Boise Work in Boise Visit Often 100K2021 Boise Pathways Master Plan
COMMUNITY VOICE
SURVEY RESULTS
FREQUENCY OF
PATHWAY USE
Daily A few times A few times Rarely Never
a week a month
For Recreation
or Exercise 23% 42% 25% 9% 1%
Transportation
(To Work,
School, Etc.)
12% 26% 24% 26% 12%
TOP THREE REASONS PEOPLE WOULD TOP THREE REASONS PARTICIPANTS
LIKE TO USE PATHWAYS DO NOT USE PATHWAYS MORE
Access Downtown Access restaurants No safe/convenient Pathways feel unsafe due
and entertainment access/no pathways to car-related hazards
nearby
X
Access local parks, trailheads, They don’t connect to where
or other recreation space participants need to go
HOW CHILDREN GET TO SCHOOL IF
PARTICIPANTS HAVE CHILDREN AT HOME
Students Drive Walk, Bike, Parent/Guardian
Themselves Ride the Bus or Roll Personal Vehicle
11% 14% 31% 41%2021 Boise Pathways Master Plan
COMMUNITY VOICE
SURVEY RESULTS
When asked, “What would more pathway connections in Boise mean to you?”,
survey and community meeting participants expressed a wide range of opinions,
preferences, and desired outcomes for the plan. Responses were summarized
through the lens of the the project goals, and some additional themes emerged,
which led to a refinement of the goals of this plan.
# OF MENTIONS MOST FREQUENTLY MENTIONED THEMES
412 ENHANCED QUALITY OF LIFE
• Easy access to outdoor recreation “It would greatly enhance the livability
• Healthy and happy lifestyles factor of the city...”
• More enjoyable commuting
372 MORE CONNECTIONS “More people might choose to walk or bike more often
• to Downtown for transportation if there was a well connected pathway
network they felt safe and comfortable on that get them
• to Schools to multiple locations within a reasonable amount of time.
• to everyday needs This is important for many reasons for our city.”
319 LESS DRIVING. LESS TRAFFIC. “I’d ride my bike and walk more often! I live on the
• Likelihood of driving less bench and an easier connection to the greenbelt that
feels safe and accessible would mean I would rarely
• Less pressure on roadways drive anywhere in the spring and summer months.”
297 SAFETY
• Ability to avoid busy streets “I live in an area right off Overland and can’t ride or
walk anywhere without being on a major road, cars
• Most roads are unsafe for kids going 40 or 50 mph”
A BETTER PATHWAY SYSTEM
92 • More pathways to choose from
“More pathways could shift some current volume off
of the Greenbelt and in the foothills.”
• Less traffic on Greenbelt “We don’t live far from the Federal Way pathway,
but it is very dangerous to get to because there is not
• Better access to/from pathways a cross walk near us”2021 Boise Pathways Master Plan
COMMUNITY VOICE
# OF MENTIONS MOST FREQUENTLY MENTIONED THEMES
83 EQUITY & CHOICE
• Improved access and amenities for “A more multi-modal city. Improved safety for non-
residents in historically underserved motorized travel. More options and possibility to
travel without a car. A city for everyone.”
neighborhoods
• More transportation choices
61 ECONOMIC VITALITY
“The greenbelt was one of the primary
• A more attractive city motivators for my spouse and I when we moved
• More exploration of the City to Boise 10 years ago. Since then we have
opened and operate two small businesses and
• Better access to businesses and bought a home in Boise. I see our pathways as
employment centers the lifeblood of our community.”
MORE TAKEAWAYS
A handful of additional themes were consistently present in general public
comments, including comments related to...
• Environmental quality: Lowering emissions improving air quality.
• Social benefits and sense of community: More family time outdoors,
interaction with neighbors and strangers
• Utilization of canal corridors: Many respondents expressed a desire to
formalize canal corridor use and that they feel safer next to canals than fast-
moving cars
• Pathway etiquette and regulation: Mitigating pathway user conflicts,
education and enforcement of pathway rulesH wy 4 n
ood
4
H wy 55
Gu m a
h
MAP 3.1
a
E d g ew
lc
Se
Hill R
oa
83714 -
d
SU RVE Y R E SPON SE E AGLE
171 Resp on ses
BY ZI PCOD E
Ga ry
83616 -
B oi se Pa th wa ys M a ster P l a n 32
Hil
Resp on ses
l
GAR D E N CI TY 83703
36
th -
St
at 2 03 Resp on ses
Col l i ster
Ch i e
Gl en wood
nde
n
83713 -
C a rtw
N E E D F O R ACTI VE TR AN SP O R TATI O N
84 Resp on ses
ri g h t
O P TI O N S B ASE D O N D E M O G R AP H I CS M cM i l l a n
Eagle
Ta ft
L owe r
Ba us
Go d d a
rd M
g
si n
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o
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un Su n set
ta i
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83704 V-i ew
2 10 Resp on ses I ren e
2 8th
or n s
em era
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ia
U sti ck
M i l wa u kee
83702 -
t
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H a rri son
M
390 Resp on ses
Wh i te
11th
Cu rti s
wa t e
r Pa
rk
F a i rvi ew
H i g h er D OWN TOWN
a
Data was analyzedat the census block group level 18 4
ic an
er
using data from the 20 13-18 ACS 5-year estimates. Pi n e
E xe c u ti ve E m er a l d Am
My F
r tl r o n
e t
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E XI STI N G PATH WAYS This page intentionally left blank
rm
Sp
ri n
83712 -
F i ve M i l e
F ra n kl i n ar
131 Resp on ses
gs
P
k
E xi sti n g P a th wa ys Rose H i l l
La ta h
Locu st Grove
Orch a rd
P l a n n e d P a th wa ys 84
B o B ea con
i se
Pro tes t
Kooten a i
B ASE M AP LAYE R S Overl a n d
Overl a n d
B roa d wa y
83706 -
Vi sta
B o i se C i ty L i m i ts M E R I D I AN
N a tu ra l su r fa ce tra i l 310 Resp on ses
Ap p l e
Can al Vi ctory
Pa r
kce
n te
R a i l ro a d M a p l e Grove
r
84
P a r k s a n d O p e n S p a ce
E ckert
Wa te r B o d i e s
Am i ty
83709 - 83705 - Am i ty
Z i p co d e B o u n d a r i e s 2 32 Resp on ses
83642 - 174 Resp on ses
Eagle
19 Resp on ses 83716 -
G o we
n
141 Resp on ses
La ke H a zel
H wy 2 1
Pl ea sa n t Va l l ey
Te
hnc
Cl overd a l e
ol o
Eis
gy
en m
Col u m b i a
Col e
Source: City of Boise; Ada County
¯
F ed
an
Date: January 2021
era l
0 1 2
M i l es KU N A2021 Boise Pathways Master Plan
COMMUNITY VOICE
INTERACTIVE WEB MAP
In conjunction with the survey, respondents were also invited to identify
opportunities and challenges related to pathways in Boise using an online
interactive map, which collected over 1,000 suggestions from roughly 1,000
unique participants. Participants were prompted to 1) mark destinations they would
like to access using pathways, 2) identify improvement areas (regarding safety,
accessibility, etc.), and 3) suggest new pathway routes and connections. Participants
were also able to “like/dislike” suggestions made by others to help the planning
team identify broader community preferences and concerns.
Above: screenshot
from the interactive
web map
SUGGESTED PATHWAY ROUTES
Map 3.2 illustrates suggested pathway routes and connections made by survey
respondents, organized by popularity. While the primary focus of this plan is off-
street corridors, many people expressed a desire for separation from cars along
roadways. Some of the most commonly suggested/liked routes include:
• The railroad corridor, especially between Boise Towne Square and Boise
Depot, as well as the rail spur from Hartman St to Irving St
• Settlers Canal from Maple Grove Rd to the Greenbelt
• Connections between the Bench, Greenbelt, and foothills via Veterans
Memorial Parkway
• Farmers Union Canal corridor in Northwest Boise2021 Boise Pathways Master Plan
COMMUNITY VOICE
The key themes for pathway development that were revealed by the web map:
• Community members would like to see canals and railway corridors utilized for
more pathways
• Provide safe access for all Boise neighborhoods to easily reach the greenbelt
• Connect pathways to commonly-accessed destinations like Downtown, the
mall, neighborhood parks, and the foothills
WHERE DO PEOPLE WANT TO GO?
Respondents were asked to mark desintations they visit often, and where
they would like to go using pathways. Some of the most frequently mentioned
destinations (with respective number of likes/mentions) include:
Hyde Park
Library! At 21 Cassia Park
Collister Downtown Area
22 Boise 37
43
Boise Foothills
Trails
Boise Coop 39
30 Veteran’s Winstead Park
Memorial Park 22
22
SUGGESTED IMPROVEMENTS
Suggested improvements to the pathway system were marked by participants,
indicating existing pathways and access infrastructure that could be improved.
While the locations and comments regarding needed improvements were diverse,
most of the comments fit into the following general themes:
• Street crossing improvements
• Improved access to the Boise River Greenbelt
• Provide lighting along pathways
• Improve pavement quality on older pathways
• Provide city-wide pathway connections so bike lanes and trails don’t come to a
sudden end
• Minimize the impact of adjacent roadways on feelings of safety while using the
pathway systemH wy 4
ood
H wy 55
4 Optimist Youth
Sports Complex
MAP 3.2
Reid W Merrill Sr Seaman
E d g ew
Community Park Gulch Area
River
H il l Ro
Property ad
PU B LI C I N PU T - E AGLE
Magnolia Park
Magnolia
Park/House Lot
Polecat
Gulch
Reserve
SU GGE STE D R OU TE S
Ga ry
Gary
Lane
Easement Site
Pierce
Banbury Greens
B oi se Pa th wa ys M a ster P l a n
Hil
Briar
l
Castle Hill Park
River
Hills
Property Park
GAR D E N CI TY Stewart
Gulch Park
Riverfront
Park Quail
RIVER POINTE Hollow
PARK WESTMORELAND Quail Hollow
Hobble Creek PARK
Plantation St Golf Course
L Park at
Col l i ster
a t e ra l Ch i e
Gl en wood
Hillside Park
Z in g e r nde
n
C a rtw
Catalpa
Skyline Park Park
Hyatt Hidden Hillside
ri g h t
Lakes to Hollow
Nottingham
DeMeyer Park Reserve
us
Charles F. Park Owens Park
McDevitt Youth
M cM i l l a n
Hyatt Hidden B og i n
Bas
Sports Complex Lakes Reserve Ladybird Ta ft Crane Creek
36th
Park
Hewett Greenbelt NW
Cottonwood Park
G od d a
Eagle
Willow
Park rd M Lane Park
ou
Cl overd a l e
Sunset Park
n MYSTIC
Su n set
Vi e t a i n
Cameron Park
COVE PARK Willow Lane
Athletic
Milwaukee w Complex Hulls Gulch
Reserve
Jullion
N U M B E R O F SU G G E STI O N S Park
Park West Moreland
Park
Greenbelt SW
River
Property
Veterans
Memorial Dewey Camel's
Park Back
Noble Reserve
Park
2 8th
RIVERFRONT Elm Grove Reserve
75 +
Champion Park PARK
Mountain Park
U sti ck I ren e
M i l wa u kee
View Park Veterans Camel's
or n s
rk er
Lowell Pool
Memorial Back Park
Pa a t
em ra
l
ia
Wh i te w
5 1 - 75
M e te
HERON
H a rri son
Comba Site Boise
Milk VIEW
V
Esther Hills Park
Redwood PARK Simplot
Lateral Park Site
Se
21 - 50
Winstead White Water
t t le
11th
Park WATERFRONT Park
Julius M. Fairmont Park rs PARK
McAuley Park
Kleiner Bernardine
6 - 20
Ca
Memorial Park Gordon S. Military
Quinn Bowen Park Reserve
na
Riverside Park Fairview Park
l
Memorial Park
0 - 5 F a i rvi ew
D OWN TOWN
Rhodes Park
Riverside
Kathryn Park
Sterling
Florence Park
18 4 Albertson Pioneer Park Capitol Park Johnston
Site Park Pathway Fort Boise Parcel
Catherine Shoreline Pioneer Tot Lot
Park
Park Pi n e n a Park Kristins Park
Shoreline C.W. Moore Aldape Park Foothills
E xe c u ti ve E m er a l d a Park East
r ic Greenbelt NW
F Robert Noble Reserve Foothills
m e Ann Morrison Idaho Anne Frank r o n Park East Park
Liberty Park A Memorial Human Rights My t
PATH WAYS Liberty Park Park Memorial r tl
Wa
rm
This page intentionally left blank
Life Estate Julia
Davis Park e Sp Castle Rock
Divotz ri n Reserve
F i ve M i l e
gs
P l a n n e d P a th wa ys
Morris
Cu rti s
rk
Pa
Chesnut Laura Moore
Hills F ra n kl i n Hill Park Cunningham Quarry
Pathway Arboretum View Park
Boise Depot
Kristen Armstrong Natatorium Pool
E xi sti n g P a th wa ys Rose H i l l
La ta h
Franklin Site Platt Gardens Municipal Park and Hydrotube
Bark Park MK Nature Center
Orch a rd
Greenbelt NE Warm
Locu st Grove
Sycamore Park Pine Grove Borah Park B o B ea con Springs
84 Park Expansion
Borah
i se Parkcenter Park
Park
Park Fa Cassia Park
Pro tes t
rm South Pool Warm Springs
L a t e rs Kooten a i Bowden Park Golf Course
e ra l
B ASE M AP LAYE R S Overl a n d Five Mile Terry Day Londoner
Pathway Cottonwood
Table
Rock/Mesa
B roa d wa y
Creek Trail Park Walking Reserve
M E R I D I AN (Easement) Overl a n d Manitou Williams Trail
N a tu ra l su r fa ce tra i l Park Park Riverside
Five Mile
Vi sta
Parcel/Canal
Creek Trail Diversion
Rid e n
Peppermint Pennsylvania
Can al
Gordon
Harris Park Park Path
Fire
Station #4 Baggley
ba
Phillippi
Ap p l e
Park Ivywild Park Park Greenbelt
Park
u gh
R a i l ro a d Molenaar
Diamond
Hillcrest
-E
Parkcenter
Ca
Victory and Park Site Shoshone Park Greenbelt SE
Vi ctory Five Mile
Wa te r B o d i e s
na
Wetland Area
Kroeger Park Pa r
l
Ne Boise Ave Oregon kce
Owyhee Park
w Trail/Bown n te
Yo r r
P a r k s a n d O p e n S p a ce
Crossing
M a p l e Grove kC Marianne
ana
84 l Helen B.
Lowder Park
Williams
Park
Ad a Co u n ty Renaissance
Park Murgoitio
Barber
Park
E ckert
Site
Holcomb
Wrigley Site Holcomb
Cypress Trail Trail (Easement)
Am i ty South Boise Park
Loop Trail
Am i ty
Hillsdale Indian
Park Lakes
Barber Pool
Eagle
Reserve
Bowler Site
Pearl Jensen
Park Site
Oregon
G o we Trail
n Reserve
La ke H a zel Simplot
Sports
Complex
Barber
South Coughlin Observation
Meridian Boise Ranch Site H wy 2 1 Point
Property
Pl ea sa n t Va l l ey
Te
Rail Corridor
hnc
Cl overd a l e
ol o
Eis
gy
en m
Col u m b i a
Col e
Source: City of Boise; Ada County
¯
F ed
Fox Ridge
an
Date: January 2021 Site
era l
0 1 2
M i l es KU N AH wy 4
ood
H wy 55
4 Optimist Youth
Sports Complex
MAP 3.3
Reid W Merrill Sr Seaman
E d g ew
Community Park Gulch Area
River
H il l Ro
Property ad
PU B LI C I N PU T - E AGLE
Magnolia Park
Magnolia
Park/House Lot
Polecat
Gulch
Reserve
D E STI N ATI ON S
Ga ry
Gary
Lane
Easement Site
Pierce
Banbury Greens
B oi se Pa th wa ys M a ster P l a n
Hil
Briar
l
Castle Hill Park
River
Hills
Property Park
GAR D E N CI TY
M AR KE D D E STI N ATI O N S B Y N U M B E R O F
Stewart
Riverfront Gulch Park
Park Quail
L I KE S R E CE I VE D Hobble Creek
RIVER POINTE
PARK WESTMORELAND
PARK
Plantation St
Hollow
Quail Hollow
Golf Course
L Park at
Col l i ster
a t e ra l Ch i e
Gl en wood
Hillside Park
nde
0 - 5 Z in g e r n
C a rtw
Catalpa
Skyline Park Park
Hyatt Hidden
6 - 10
Hillside
ri g h t
Lakes to Hollow
Nottingham
DeMeyer Park Reserve
us
Charles F. Park Owens Park
McDevitt Youth
M cM i l l a n
Hyatt Hidden B og i n
Bas
Sports Complex
11 - 15 Ta ft
Lakes Reserve Ladybird Crane Creek
36th
Park
Hewett Greenbelt NW
Cottonwood Park
G od d a
Eagle
Willow
16 - 20 rd M
Park
ou Lane Park
Cl overd a l e
Sunset Park
n MYSTIC
Su n set
Vi e t a i n
Cameron Park
COVE PARK Willow Lane
Athletic
Milwaukee w Complex Hulls Gulch
Reserve
Jullion
21+
Park West Moreland Greenbelt SW
Park Veterans Noble Reserve
Park River Dewey Camel's
Property Memorial
Park Park Back
2 8th
RIVERFRONT Elm Grove Reserve
Champion Park PARK
Mountain Park
U sti ck I ren e
M i l wa u kee
View Park Veterans Camel's
or n s
rk er
Lowell Pool
Memorial Back Park
Pa a t
em ra
l
ia
Wh i te w
M e te
ACTI VI TY CE N TE R S
HERON
H a rri son
Comba Site Boise
Milk VIEW
V
Esther Hills Park
Redwood PARK Simplot
Lateral Park Site
Winstead Se White Water
t t le
11th
Park WATERFRONT Park
Julius M. Fairmont Park rs PARK
McAuley Park
R e g i o n a l Acti vi ty Ce n te r
Kleiner Bernardine
Ca
Memorial Park Gordon S. Military
Quinn Bowen Park Reserve
na
Riverside Park Fairview Park
l
Memorial Park
F a i rvi ew
D OWN TOWN
Rhodes Park
Riverside
Co m m u n i ty Acti vi ty Ce n te r
Kathryn Park
Sterling
Florence Park
18 4 Albertson Pioneer Park Capitol Park Johnston
Site Park Pathway Fort Boise Parcel
Catherine Shoreline Pioneer Tot Lot
Park
Park Pi n e n a Park Kristins Park
Shoreline C.W. Moore Aldape Park Foothills
E xe c u ti ve E m er a l d a Park East
r ic Greenbelt NW
F Robert Noble Reserve Foothills
e
N e i g h b o r h o o d Acti vi ty Ce n te r r o n Park
m Ann Morrison Idaho Anne Frank East Park
Liberty Park A Memorial Human Rights My t
Liberty Park Park Memorial Wa
r tl rm
This page intentionally left blank
Life Estate Julia
Davis Park e Sp Castle Rock
Divotz ri n Reserve
F i ve M i l e
Morris gs
Cu rti s
rk
Pa
Chesnut Laura Moore
Hills F ra n kl i n Hill Park Cunningham Quarry
Pathway Arboretum View Park
PATH WAYS
Boise Depot
Kristen Armstrong Natatorium Pool
Rose H i l l
La ta h
Franklin Site Platt Gardens Municipal Park and Hydrotube
Bark Park MK Nature Center
Orch a rd
Greenbelt NE Warm
Locu st Grove
B o B ea con
E xi sti n g P a th wa ys Sycamore Park Borah Park Springs
Pine Grove
84 Park Expansion
Borah
i se Parkcenter Park
Park
Park Fa Cassia Park
Pro tes t
rm South Pool Warm Springs
L a t e rs Kooten a i
P l a n n e d P a th wa ys
Bowden Park Golf Course
e ra l
Table
Overl a n d Five Mile Terry Day Londoner
Cottonwood Rock/Mesa
Pathway
B roa d wa y
Creek Trail Park Walking Reserve
M E R I D I AN (Easement) Overl a n d Manitou Williams Trail
B ASE M AP LAYE R S Five Mile
Park Park Riverside
Vi sta
Parcel/Canal
Creek Trail Diversion
Rid e n
Gordon Peppermint Pennsylvania
B o i se C i ty L i m i ts Harris Park Park Path
Fire
Station #4 Baggley
ba
Phillippi
Ap p l e
Park Ivywild Park Park Greenbelt
Park
u gh
-E
N a tu ra l su r fa ce tra i l
Molenaar Hillcrest Parkcenter
Diamond
Ca
Victory and Park Site Shoshone Park Greenbelt SE
Vi ctory Five Mile
na
Wetland Area
Pa r
Can al
Kroeger Park
l
Ne Boise Ave Oregon kce
Owyhee Park
w Trail/Bown n te
Yo r Crossing r
kC
R a i l ro a d
M a p l e Grove ana Marianne
84 l Helen B.
Lowder Park
Williams
Park
Barber
Ad a Co u n ty
Renaissance
Park Murgoitio Park
Site
E ckert
Holcomb
P a r k s a n d O p e n S p a ce
Wrigley Site Holcomb
Cypress Trail Trail (Easement)
Am i ty South Boise Park
Loop Trail
Am i ty
Wa te r B o d i e s Hillsdale
Park
Indian
Lakes
Barber Pool
Eagle
Reserve
Bowler Site
Pearl Jensen
Park Site
Oregon
G o we Trail
n Reserve
La ke H a zel Simplot
Sports
Complex
Barber
South Coughlin Observation
Meridian Boise Ranch Site H wy 2 1 Point
Property
Pl ea sa n t Va l l ey
Te
Rail Corridor
hnc
Cl overd a l e
ol o
Eis
gy
en m
Col u m b i a
Col e
Source: City of Boise; Ada County
¯
F ed
Fox Ridge
an
Date: January 2021 Site
era l
0 1 2
M i l es KU N A2021 Boise Pathways Master Plan
COMMUNITY VOICE
COMMUNITY MEETINGS
As part of the Phase I: Listen + Learn outreach process, community members were
invited to attend one of two in-person or two virtual Neighborhood Conversations.
For each event, space was limited to 20 participants with advanced registration
required. The in-person events were held at Municipal and Winstead Park, with
all participants practicing physical distancing. The virtual events were held using
Zoom.
The neighborhood conversations sought to actively solicit input from a wide range
of community members on existing pathway conditions and future vision, as well as
raise awareness about the project.
We asked participants to share thoughts about plan opportunities, concerns, and
ways to stay involved. The following themes emerged:
CURRENT PATHWAY SYSTEM USED FOR COMMUTE AND RECREATION
Many participants use the existing pathway system for both recreation and
commute purposes. Many who live within easy access of an existing pathway will
either walk or bike to the pathway. However, some participants noted that since
they live far from a pathway, they often drive to Greenbelt to walk or bike for
recreation.
NEED FOR INCREASED CAPACITY WITHIN SYSTEM
The COVID-19 Pandemic showed participants how important open space is in our
Below: City of Boise community. Many participants felt that the pathways experienced increase in usage
staff facilitating
neighborhood
and crowds. Participants believed that expanding the system would help to relieve
discussion some of the congestion on the Greenbelt and Foothills trails.2021 Boise Pathways Master Plan
COMMUNITY VOICE
AN EXPANDED PATHWAY SYSTEM WILL OPEN UP THE CITY FOR
EVERYONE
Many participants agreed that an expanded pathway system would “open” up the
city for everyone. People saw an expanded pathway system as an opportunity to
make it easier and more convenient to see new parts of the city. As well, many
mentioned that an expanded pathway system will create opportunity for new
businesses and spaces across the city.
COORDINATE WITH PARTNER AGENCIES
Participants urged the city to coordinate with other agencies in order to create
a seamless pathway system. Many urged us to connect to Ada County Highway
District on street bike and pedestrian facilities or to connect through Garden City to
the greenbelt.
MAKE USEFUL CONNECTIONS
Participants expressed a desire for the expanded pathway system to connect
to important destinations such as schools, restaurants, and parks. They felt that
connecting to places
CONCERNS ABOUT SAFETY OF ALL USERS
As the pathway system is expanded, many expressed concern about the safety of
all users. Some safety concerns included addressing conflicts between cars and
pathway users when having to cross an on-street facility and the conflict between
pathways users that move at different speeds (bikers, walkers, scooters, etc.). Some
suggested that as the pathway system is expanded the city should invest in bicycle/
pedestrian education and culture building to address these issues.You can also read
