Marissa Lovell with From Boise brought the adult recommendations to the City Cast Boise podcast, and Becca Bailey, who runs Boise With Kids, has the family-friendly picks.
For the adults, Marissa picked out this list of parks based on their open spaces for lounging or games, picnic areas and grills, and their policies regarding dogs and alcohol.
1. Kristin Armstrong Municipal Park
Right on the Greenbelt and a quick bike ride from downtown, Marissa named this her favorite park for adults because it has eleven grill or picnic areas, plenty of parking, and massive shade trees. Kristin Armstrong Municipal Park also has some interesting Boise history, and you can feel that it’s an old place, which as Marissa says, makes it the perfect place to chill. Bonus: the MK Nature Center is right there.
2. Eagle Rock Park
This tucked-away park is also in the East End, and bordered by the Foothills. Eagle Rock Park is a prime picnic spot because it’s mostly one large field, and it’ll probably be pretty quiet. It’s also right next to the Boise Foothills, so it’s a good home base for a hike, visit to the Idaho Botanical Garden, or stroll through the East End.
3. Ann Morrison Park
Marissa only ranked Ann Morrison Park at third because it’s already so popular, and can get a little busy. Some of the other picks on the list are better options for a quiet hang out, but Ann Morrison is beloved because it offers a little bit of everything: volleyball, tennis, soccer, an outdoor gym, a disc golf course, Treasure Valley Dog Island, and more.
4. Catalpa Park
For a quiet afternoon in a smaller park, Catalpa Park in the Collister neighborhood has a lot of shaded and open areas, trees, and a basketball and tennis court. It’s directly next to Collister Elementary School so it’s definitely not only for adults, but it’s small and tucked-away enough to feel relaxed.
5: Willow Lane Park
At 57 acres, the Willow Lane Athletic Complex is one of Boise’s biggest green spaces. It’s a popular spot for soccer and softball league games, but there’s also a BMX park and Greenbelt access along its edge.
Dog Parks
City Cast Boise dug in the bark, gravel, sand, dirt, and everything in between to assess the best dog parks last summer. There’s plenty to choose from, since our city has the most dog parks per capita according to the Trust for Public Land.
