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- calendar_today October 21, 2026
Park at Expo Idaho Set to Welcome Public
This Friday marks the grand opening of Ada County’s Park at Expo Idaho, a nearly 50-acre green space designed to blend recreation, history, and ecological uplift. The park, which includes restored wetlands, an Olympic-class skate park, and innovative playgrounds, opens its gates following five years of planning and construction.
A Unique Recreational Space
The Park at Expo Idaho features 3.4 miles of accessible paths and nearly a million hand-planted native species. According to Ada County Senior Project Manager Josh Brown, the park is “99.9% complete,” with plants poised to mature over time. Brown emphasized that the park will improve in appearance each year as natural landscapes and wildlife continue to establish.
There is only about one-third of an acre of turf grass; the rest is dedicated to native plants. Wetlands and flood capacity for the nearby Boise River were central to the park's design, requirements set by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to ensure ecological uplift.
Design and Construction Innovations
Chicago and Philadelphia-based architecture team Port Urbanism led the park’s design, calling the project a "one-of-one." Nick Jabs, the lead landscape architect, noted the achievement of building such a significant park in just five years. Brown described the timeline as “unprecedented” for a project of this scale and indicated it was driven by the need to utilize $42 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds before the year's end.
The project faced challenges, including unexpected water pipes and coordination with Boise Pro Soccer, which moved into the Expo site during the park’s development. Despite these hurdles, Brown affirmed that the team stayed under budget and successfully coordinated the various contractors and trades needed for the build.
Olympic-Class Skate Park and Unique Features
The park’s northwest corner is anchored by an Olympic-class skate park. Its features are designed for skaters of all levels, from beginners to Olympic-level athletes, using elements inspired by the Olympics themselves. Nearby, a striking public bathroom built with 750,000 pounds of concrete offers a modernist look and unique nighttime lighting.
Across the site, nods to Expo Idaho’s horse racing heritage are visible, including refurbished railings, an old watchtower, and barn-style utility structures. The restroom and picnic pavilion structure boasts natural air conditioning, using skylights to create cooling air vortices and funneling rainwater into a visible waterfall during wet weather.
Playgrounds and Nature Play
The park features the largest public swing set west of the Mississippi, designed to resemble a horse track railing rather than a standard A-frame. David Fulton of Plan North Engineers oversaw unique structural elements, including foundations weighing as much as five large pickup trucks. The playgrounds are equipped for both children and adults, featuring climbing structures, slides up to 36 feet tall, boulders, and wood scrambles for all-ages nature play.
Ecological Uplift and Native Wildlife
Restored wetlands at the center of the park are already attracting birds such as Canada Geese, sandpipers, killdeer, great herons, egrets, kestrels, and kingfishers. Brown, a bird enthusiast, noted the park’s intentional design for wildlife, creating habitat for fish, frogs, salamanders, and potential beaver activity. He encourages visitors to stay on marked paths to protect these habitats and use cameras for wildlife observation without disturbing animals.
Opening Celebration
Friday’s ribbon cutting is scheduled for 10 a.m. on the plaza near the greenbelt and Plantation Island bridge. The space is equipped to host community events, including food trucks and live music. As Josh Brown reflected, the Park at Expo Idaho is a generational project designed “to grow with you” and evolve over the years as plants mature and wildlife populations increase.
Source: boisestatepublicradio.org.
