Boise City’s Parks and Recreation director delivered a departmental review and a project update, saying the department finished major park renovations in 2025 and will advance a packed construction agenda in 2026.

The presentation, given as an informational item, highlighted completed projects such as the red panda passage at Zoo Boise and Settlers Canal Path — described as the city’s 100th developed park — and listed a series of improvements now open or nearing completion, including a six-flight Peaslee Street outdoor staircase that improves access to Anne Morrison Park. “We wanna advance our 10 minute walk goal,” Director Arcol said, framing the work as part of a broader equity and accessibility push.

Arcol said the department manages roughly 101 parks and about 66 miles of pathway systemwide and reported stronger project progress in 2025 on sites including McDevitt and Fairview. Fairview Park, she said, reopened this winter with a new playground, accessible pathways and refurbished courts and “was just bustling” the prior weekend.

Several acquisitions expanded open space, Arcol said: nearly 50 acres donated in the foothills near Mesa Reserve and Table Rock, and a purchased Fry Street Park site that officials plan to convert to parkland while using the existing house for fire training. The department also secured approval to build a downhill-focused trail in Sideshow after coordinating with Ridge River partners and federal agencies.

Arcol identified program and access efforts: about 1,600 people used scholarship funding for recreation programs last year, and Zoo Boise has expanded access with a reduced-fee “$3 Thursdays” program run with partner organizations, including SNAP providers. A large Zoo Boise education building is under construction to expand programming space.

On capital work, Arcol said Alta Harris Park Phase 2 will move forward this spring and summer with a $1,500,000 allocation and that the department will soon go out to bid. Other near-term priorities include improvements at Veterans Memorial Park, the Charles F. McDevitt youth sports complex, and replacing asphalt with concrete on deteriorated segments of the Boise River Greenbelt in the Wood Duck area.

Arcol emphasized inclusion as a design principle and said the department will make accessibility standard in new projects. She pointed to two communication boards installed to help children with speech and language challenges and credited Boise School District therapists for the idea.

Commissioners asked how Parks and Recreation participates in the Pathways Master Plan. Arcol outlined the department’s role: seeking implementation opportunities, coordinating with public works on engineering issues, and accepting long-term maintenance of completed pathways. She named Trevor Kessner as the department’s pathways liaison and cited the Grove Street connection, funded and built by CCDC, as an example of a partnership the city later maintains.

The presentation closed as an informational item; the commission did not take a vote on policy during this session. Arcol asked commissioners to direct follow-up questions to staff for any inventory clarifications or detailed cost questions.