Boaters and others are anxiously awaiting the opening of the first phase of the Boise River Recreation Park.  City officials say the park should be complete when final construction has been wrapped up by McAlvain Construction in early April.  

The man whose name is associated with some of the largest dam projects in the world will soon be recognized for his legacy through contributions to a much smaller, but highly anticipated project.

Mayor Bieter praised the Foundation for moving forward to develop Esther Simplot Park, a 55-acre parcel along the Boise River west of Main Street. The Simplot Foundation donated $1 million in 2003 to complete the purchase of the park.

A donation of $950,000 from the JA and Kathryn Albertson Foundation will close a gap in fundraising and allow the City of Boise to begin construction this fall on the first in a series of in-river improvements to the Boise River Recreation Park. Volunteers continue to raise funds for subsequent phases of the project.

BOISE - Friends of Parks, a volunteer group organized to raise funds for the Ray Neef, MD, River Recreation Park, has major contributions to the project in the last several months. The Harry W. Morrison Foundation has donated $50,000. The Jeker Family Trust, and several other organizations and individuals have made significant gifts as well.

Centennial High School students build Boise River Recreation Park Model as class Volunteer Project. The completed model will be used to enhance community understanding of new wave shaper dam being built to provide river run kayak facilities on the Boise river.

Mayor David Bieter today announced a major contribution by the J.A. & Kathryn Albertson Foundation to fund the upcoming Ray Neef MD River Recreation Park.