Boise - Southeast

Southeast Boise encompasses a large geographic area south of the Boise River and east of Broadway, a major north-south corridor. In this area are many established neighborhoods, including Park Center, where many river-front homes and apartments are nestled discretely behind the corporate homes of Boise’s major companies, such as Albertson’s, URS (formerly Washington Group International), and a variety of hotels, restaurants and shops on Park Center Boulevard. The mix of beautifully planned commercial and residential properties with lake and river frontage and direct access to the Boise River and its Greenbelt make this area a highly desirable place to live. Other established neighborhoods include Lakewood, just minutes from Park Center Boulevard, in which residents can choose from apartments, condominiums, townhomes, duplexes and single-family homes in a well-maintained private community that boasts its own pocket parks and recreational features. Nearby is Ivywild Park, one of Boise Parks and Recreation Department’s many community parks. Ivywild features a large public swimming pool with water slides, soccer and baseball fields, as well as playgrounds, walking paths, and a covered picnic area. Parks like Ivywild are scattered throughout many of Boise’s neighborhoods.

One key anchor to this section of the city is the location of Micron Technology’s corporate offices. The presence of this major employer has drawn many residents to the area. Communities such as Columbia Village and Surprise Valley have arisen to accommodate the growing population. With them have come more businesses and retail services. For the many families that live in the area, the Simplot Sports Complex, a 161-acre special use area, has 15 Little League baseball fields, 20 separate soccer fields and a playground for children ages 2 to 5.

Southeast Boise is also home to one of the newest planned communities, Bown Crossing, which brings together luxury homes and condominiums with restaurants, shops and businesses to create a true sense of neighborhood.

One of summer’s favorite activities is launched from Southeast Boise—floating the Boise River. From Barber Park at the south east end of Boise Avenue, you can rent tubes and rafts, or bring your own to put into the river for a casual float that takes you right into the heart of Boise, where you exit the river at Ann Morrison Park. Boise’s Parks and Recreation Department makes it easy with a bus that shuttles floaters between the two parks most days during floating season.

This past summer we posted an article giving our readers an update on the East Parkcenter Bridge. In the piece we were complimentary about the bridge under construction -  project sighting, the user friendly design and its’ ample attention to both pedestrians and bicyclists. Now that the project is complete, we are happy to report that our earlier predictions about the traffic, Bown Crossing and the minimal neighborhood invasiveness have been born out.

As the Idaho Statesman pointed out in a recent addition, Bown Crossing is booming! With an eclectic compliment of restaurants, specialty shops, professional services and attractions, it seems to have something for everyone. With that said, people, pets, kids, bicyclists and pedestrians seem to be flocking there and why wouldn’t you?

In addition to the already abundant parks in the area, soon we will have yet another. The seventy acre Marianne Williams Park is being constructed on the North side of the river just under and to the East of the bridge. As the new park takes shape, the bike path that presently runs parallel to Highway 21 will be rerouted through the park allowing a closer river experience. More details about the park can be obtained through the Boise Parks Department.

We are thrilled with the changes in our neighborhood and encourage those of you who are unacquainted with Southeast Boise to check it out.  It has been well planned out from the very beginning and we cannot imagine living anywhere else!

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Fall is in the air in Boise and it is fabulous! Being born and raised in Les Bois I’ve grown up loving the autumn changes that fill the air each year! From the heat of the Indian summer to the rainy days & surprise of snow top mountains, these are the signs of fall that surround us.  The entrance to our neighborhood in Surprise Valley is lined with the most beautiful trees, Sensation Maples, and each day they change a different color when fall hits, ultimately ending with the most brilliant red leaves I’ve ever seen.  It is such a wonderful greeting to come home to each day.  

Boise also boasts many of the best public celebrations in the fall, such as, Art in the Park, the Hyde Park street fair, and the Women’s Celebration run.  I love all of the outdoor activities and festival that Boise has to offer, along with the changing seasons, chill in the air and smell of BSU football tailgating.

These are the few reasons I love the seasons in Boise, Idaho…the best place on earth!  Now this is Living!

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For many of us who live in Southeast Boise, the new East Park Center Bridge has been an unsettling issue.  What we have found in watching the project unfold is much different than some of the doom and gloom predictions that many of the opponents had suggested.  The actual construction, which began in April of 2008, has progressed quite smoothly with little noise, few traffic interruptions and minimal dust and debris.  The structure itself appears to be well designed to handle pedestrian, bicycle, and, of course, automobile traffic while maintaining a low profile and a minimal environmental footprint.  The project is on schedule, we understand, and is to be complete this November.

One of the biggest concerns about the project is the effect it will have on Park Center traffic.  While it is too early to know, it is worth mentioning that we have seen only a minimal increase in traffic while Warm Springs Avenue has been completely shut down these past six weeks as the north side intersection of the bridge, Starview Drive, Barber and Highway 21 are realigned.  With the installation of traffic lights and other traffic calming features, we believe the post completion traffic count will not significantly affect our neighborhood.

Our view is that any negative effect increased traffic might have on our area is going to be offset by the positive impact Bown Crossing has brought and continues to bring.  What a great thing to be able to walk to restaurants, shops and professional services.  You only have to take a child or grandchild to Powell’s to be hooked!  We love living off ParkCenter Boulevard with the bike path and greenbelt on either side of us and think the bridge will have little or no long term effect on the lifestyle we enjoy in our neighborhood.

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