Stop Boise City from Ruining Military Reserve with an Inappropriately Sited Bike Park

Boise City met in secret for a year with the J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Foundation to plan a BMX-style Bike Park at Military Reserve in the Foothills. The public was kept in the dark until after the City Council passed a Resolution endorsing the project. This is the dead opposite of the way any full and fair civic process should work.

Military Reserve contains important wildlife and rare plant habitat, a historical Veterans Cemetery, riparian areas, and fine views of the City and Mountains. It is cherished by many folks for walking, walking with dogs, a Dog Park, running and casual biking. It is already crowded. Attracting many more people to this much-used area by constructing a Bike Park will have serious spillover effects. it will heighten user conflicts, increase wildfire risk, degrade wildlife habitat, decrease trail safety, and generally harm Reserve natural area and historical values.

Imposing the Bike Park sets in motion a chain of disturbance, displacement and new development. The Bike Park would displace the Dog Park. The Dog Park, shrunk by more than half, would be moved to the current Archery Range site. The Archery Range would be moved to an undeveloped open space area by the historical cemetery and its serene setting.

The City's action disrespects the many existing users of the area, the volunteers who have helped maintain the Reserve, and the neighbors. Traffic is already snarled on access routes.

The City’s Resolution must be retracted. The City must start over, and conduct an open and transparent process. Hold upfront public meetings for citizens to have a full say in where suitable Bike Park locations would be. Consider a broad range of alternatives, including: Other City Parks, other lands owned by the City, or a series of satellite style Bike parks in neighborhoods with fewer existing recreational opportunities.