Projects

More than 100 years ago, Julia Davis welcomed emigrants to Boise after their journey across the high desert. Julia and her husband, Tom, played a prominent role in the history of Boise. Upon Julia’s death in 1907, Tom gave 43 riverside acres of orchard to the City in her memory for Boise’s first public park.

About 15 years ago, Julia Davis’ great-granddaughter, Diane Davis Myklegard, began collaborating with City officials to plan a public celebration to mark the park’s centennial in 2007.  The one-day event drew more than 15,000 people to Julia Davis Park for demonstrations, fashion and art shows, music and family activities.

Diane also gathered a group of community volunteers, the Second Century Coalition, around a central vision for rejuvenating the park. They organized a national design competition to plan park enhancements.  The competition winners designed enhancements to expand learning opportunities, create new community gathering areas, and celebrate Idaho heritage.  New park features include:

• Rotary Grand Plaza - A gathering place for community events and concerts
• Agriculture Pavilion and Restroom - A structure for gathering with art and displays celebrating Idaho’s agricultural heritage
• History Walk - A path from the Rotary Grand Plaza to the River Habitat Node with sculptures and interpretive signs highlighting local history
• Quest for the Golden Apple - An interactive game designed to develop "problem-solving" skills, cultivate an appreciation for Idaho history and encourage exploration of the park
• River Habitat Node - A gathering place along the Boise Greenbelt with interpretive signage on river ecology and the influence of water in the development of the West
• Bloch Plaza - A tribute to cancer survivors, those battling the disease and their families made possible by the RA Bloch Foundation, which has granted $900,000 toward construction, $100,000 toward a maintenance endowment, sculpture and artwork.  This plaza is one of XX designated by the Foundation around the nation
• Children's Plaza - A project dedicated to survivors of childhood cancer and their families by the Trevor’s Trek Foundation in collaboration with the Ada County Paramedics and others

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