Brighton Corporation is excited to announce the commencement of construction of the Marianne Williams Park in Boise's Barber Valley. The City of Boise, the Williams Family, and Brighton Corporation commemorated the occasion with a ground-breaking ceremony on July 21st, where we unveiled additional details of the park master plan. The 70-acre park stretches over a mile of Boise River frontage and will join Kathryn Albertson, Ann Morrison and Julia Davis Parks, among others, as another gem in the City's famed "Ribbon of Jewels" riverside parks.
Since the park was announced with the donation of the property to Boise City by Larry Williams in 2005, Brighton has worked diligently with the City on the design and permitting required for construction of the park. Progress includes:
- Completion of construction plans and specifications for utilities, grading, irrigation and landscaping, roadways and bridges, parking, and all the other amenities that go into a premier riverfront park;
- Construction of the sewer trunk lines, lift station and water main lines;
- Securing of all permits and regulatory approvals, including:
- US Army Corps of Engineers 404 [Wetlands] Permit;
- Idaho Department of Water Resources Stream Alteration Permit;
- Boise River System Permit;
- Boise City Grading Permit; and
- Boise River No-Net-Rise Certification.
With permits in hand, construction of the first phase begins. Once the location of a major industrial / logging operation, the site requires significant grading to enhance wetlands and provide for flood conveyance along the Boise River bank. Walling Creek will also be re-graded and enhanced to provide trout spawning habitat and additional flood conveyance. When completed, the site will feature over 42 acres of restored, enhanced and functional wetlands.
Park access will be via a newly constructed Barber Valley Drive, connecting to the new East Park Center Bridge through the future Barber Station development. In the future the road will connect over Walling Creek to a newly constructed Warm Spring Avenue to the east.
Landscaping, or green-up of the Park is anticipated to commence in 2010 with the "core" area of the park scheduled to open by the summer of 2011. Final completion of the Park is dependent on additional funding from future collection of Park Impact Fees. The Park will include everything we love about East Boise recreation: walking paths and trails, ponds, greenbelt pathways along both the Boise River and Walling Creek, and a significant nature preserve with wetlands restoration and enhancements. When finished, Marianne Williams Park will be one more place for Boiseans and visitors to enjoy the natural beauty of our great city!
Michael Wardle
Director of Planning
