11. Recreational Trails and Pathways Needs

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1 11. Recreational Trails and Pathways Needs Background Walking, biking, hiking, in-line skating, canoeing, and other trail- and pathway-related activities are important to Boiseans. This importance is demonstrated by extensive use the Boise River, Greenbelt system, and Boise Foothills trails. Results of the 2003 recreation survey of Boise households (see the appendices) confirm the importance of recreational trails and pathways to the community. Survey results indicate that 72% of area households use the Boise River Greenbelt, and 26% use the Boise Foothills trail system. Survey results also indicate that people living in the Foothills 1, North River, and Southeast park planning areas are heavier users of the path and trail systems. Nearly 77% of households in these areas use the Greenbelt path one or more times in any given 30-day period. Similarly, over 40% of households in these areas used the Boise Foothills trail system one or more times in any 30-day period. Results of the household survey show continued strong demand for expanding the recreational trail and pathway systems in the community. Returns ranked expanding and developing the Greenbelt path and Boise Foothills trail systems as the third highest (9.7%) park improvement needed to serve Boise. Respondents ranked paved walking and biking paths as the most needed (12.8%) outdoor public recreation facility in Boise from a list of 18 such facilities. Unpaved trails ranked as sixth highest (7.0%) as the outdoor recreation facility needed in the community. Recreational Trails and Pathways Defined Recreational trails and pathways are designed to provide walking, bicycling, and other nonmotorized recreational opportunities. Recreational trails and pathways also provide nonmotorized options for travel throughout the community by linking parks, recreation facilities, neighborhoods, schools, and other facilities. Trails and pathways may be either unsurfaced or treated with a variety of hard surfacing materials including concrete, asphalt, granite chips, or chemical bonding agents. Unsurfaced trails and pathways may be left in their natural condition or supplemented with gravel, bark chips, sand, or other material. The type of surfacing depends on soil type, slopes, location, intended uses, usage, and other conditions. Recreational trails, simply called trails in this chapter, are primarily located within natural open space areas; may vary in type, size and design; and may be designated for single or multiple types of use. Examples of trails include Crestline Trail, Holcomb Extension, Cottonwood Creek Trail, Boise River Canoe Trail, and Castlerock Loop. Recreational pathways emphasized in this chapter are those improved-surface recreational routes that are separated from roadways and designed and constructed in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local guidelines for Class I pathways. Pathways are managed for nonmotorized multiple use and generally located within the urban environment. Examples of pathways include the Boise River Greenbelt path, Oregon Trail Historic Reserve interpretive loop, Federal Way path, and Garden Street 1 Chapter 4 includes a recommendation to combine this park planning area with the North River park planning area. 11. Recreational Trails and Pathway Needs 1

2 extension. On-street bike routes, sidewalks connected with the street transportation, and internal paved paths within developed parks are not included in these definitions. Trails and Pathway Planning During 1992 and 1993, the Ada Planning Association (now called Community Planning Association or COMPASS) initiated a countywide pathway planning effort, in anticipation of federal opportunities for pathway funding as part of the Inter-modal Surface Transportation Enhancement Act (ISTEA). The plan was given the name Ridge to Rivers to reflect the vision of an interconnected network of trails, pathways, and bike lanes from the Boise Ridge to the Boise and Snake Rivers. The Ridge to Rivers Pathway Plan provides an overall concept for 1) on-street bike routes and lanes, 2) multiple-use pathways, and 3) multiple-use trails. The City continues to participate in regional pathway planning through COMPASS and the Ada County Ridge to Rivers Pathway Plan. The Ada County Highway District has primary responsibility for planning, constructing, and maintaining on-street bike routes, bike lanes, and sidewalks. The city of Boise has primary responsibility for planning, constructing, and maintaining off-street multiple-use recreational pathways and trails within Boise and its area of impact. The City should continue participating in regional planning for trails and pathways to encourage connectivity and advance cooperation, coordination, and joint funding efforts for maintaining and expanding the trail and pathway systems. Proposed Recreational Trails and Pathways Facility Plan A system of recreation-oriented multiple-use pathways, trails, and public trailhead parking is proposed to complement the on-street pathway system. The individual elements of the proposed recreational trails and pathways facility plan are described in this chapter. Also see the proposed recreational trails and pathways facility plan map at the end of this chapter, as well as a list of foothills trails, which also identifies management responsibility and use designations. Table 11-1 lists trail systems within Boise and its area of impact. Table 11-1 Summary of recreational trails and pathways within Boise s area of impact Pathway/Trail System Name Boise River Greenbelt path Total System Miles Proposed within Boise and Area of Impact Existing System Miles under City Management Proposed New System Miles within Boise s Area of Impact Notes Ada County maintains 7.2 miles in the area of impact. Boise spur rail path The City owns 14.6 miles outside the area of impact. Canal trails None are formally open to recreational use. Oregon Trail Boise Foothills trails The total existing system includes over 75 miles of trails. Federal Way path This path is an Ada County Highway District facility; the City maintains 3.1 miles Recreational Trails and Pathway Needs

3 Pathway/Trail System Name Total System Miles Proposed within Boise and Area of Impact Existing System Miles under City Management Proposed New System Miles within Boise s Area of Impact Notes Boise River Canoe Trail a,b 0.0 Focus is on portages, support facilities, and safety changes to instream structures. Other public path links a Total a Not included in calculation of recreational trail standard per 1,000 residents b Not yet developed The existing community level of service standard can be calculated in two ways. One is to use the 2002 City resident population estimate of 199,975 and include only inventory data for path and trail properties under City management. The other is to use all publicly managed paths and trail properties in Boise and its area of impact (total 70 miles: City [57.3 miles], Ada County [7.2 miles], and Ada County Highway District [5.5 miles]). Table 11-2 summarizes both methods of calculating the current level of service standard for recreational trails and pathways and compares them with the 1993 adopted City standard. Table 11-2 Comparison of recreational pathways and trails standards Facility Type City-managed recreational trails and paths All publicly managed recreational trails and paths 2003 Inventory (miles) Existing Standard (miles/1,000 residents) a Calculated using number of Boise residents b Calculated using number of residents of Boise and its area of impact Adopted Standard (miles/1,000 residents) Adopted Target Standard (miles/1,000 residents) a 0.41 NA b 0.41 NA Table 11-2 indicates that the City s adopted 1993 standard of 0.41 mile per 1,000 residents has not been maintained. However, in its efforts to implement the adopted standard, the City has made great strides in adding trails and pathways. The adopted recreational trails standard should be retained to reflect a communitywide demand for paths and trails. This standard is especially desirable since trails and paths are funded by a variety of federal, state, and local funding sources and used by the entire community. Reducing the standard to reflect the 2002 calculated existing service ratio would not serve the community s current or projected demands for recreational trails and pathways. Table 11-3 shows calculated level of service needs for recreational pathways and trails for both 2002 and 2020, based on retaining the adopted level of service standard of 0.41 mile of trail per 1,000 residents. The 2020 need calculation is based on combined population estimates for Boise and its area of impact (290,669). 11. Recreational Trails and Pathway Needs 3

4 Table 11-3 Recreational pathways and trails facility needs for Boise city and area of impact Area or Facility Recreation trails and pathways 2002 Inventory (miles) 2002 Demand (miles) 2020 Need (miles) Additional Need (miles) The proposed level of service standard for recreational trails should include provisions for trailhead parking accesses at an interval of one public trailhead per 2.1 miles of recreational path or trail (Table 11-4). To meet projected 2020 trail needs, nine additional public trailheads will be needed to adequately serve the community s trail access needs. Table 11-4 Public trailhead parking accesses Facility Type City-managed trailhead parking areas Other publicly managed trailhead parking areas 2003 Inventory Calculation of Current Standard miles/22 sites = 2.6 miles/trailhead miles/11 sites = 1.15 miles/trailhead Total miles/33 sites = 2.1 miles/trailhead Proposed New Trailheads Totals Boise River Greenbelt Pathway System 34.8 Miles The Boise River Greenbelt pathway system spans many jurisdictions, including Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation; Ada County; and the cities of Garden City, Eagle, and Boise. These entities have demonstrated support for advancing development of the Greenbelt pathway through their planning areas. The city of Boise is currently responsible for managing 22.9 miles of the Greenbelt. Ada County operates and maintains 7.2 miles of the path that is located inside the City s area of impact. The total length of the Greenbelt path system within Boise s area of impact is 30.1 miles. The City maintains nearly all Greenbelt path segments within its corporate boundaries except for 3.3 miles of the path in an area that has been annexed but remains under Ada County s management. The City should continue its efforts to assume Ada County s ownership and maintenance responsibilities for those sections of the path that have been annexed into the City to unify path maintenance and management and reduce potential confusion among the public and law enforcement officials about agency responsibilities. Proposed Greenbelt improvements include continued focus on maintaining surfaces, widening older sections of the paved path to meet current Class I path standards, closing gaps in the pathway system, and supporting interconnection of the north and south sides of the path to improve public safety, convenience, and promote use of alternative transportation. Recognized gaps in this system include sections on the south side of the river from Americana Boulevard to Main Street and through the West Boise Wastewater Treatment Plant properties. The City should also support development of connections between the north and south sides of the path in conjunction with future planned roadway projects such as expansion of the Highway 21 bridge over the Boise River and extension of Highway 55 from State Street to Chinden Boulevard. With Garden City, the City should cooperatively evaluate and plan for a Recreational Trails and Pathway Needs

5 new nonmotorized Class I bridge connection for the Greenbelt path in the vicinity of Pleasanton Street and East 36th Street. The City s adopted comprehensive plan calls for rerouting 1.6 miles of existing 10-feet-wide paved Greenbelt path from the old railroad spur corridor toward the Boise River in the area between Warm Springs Mesa and Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation offices. The section of existing pathway that follows the old Eckert Road alignment (from the Boise River to Warm Spring Avenue and then east to Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation headquarters) is to be retained to maintain connections with Boise Foothills trails and adjoining neighborhoods. Rerouting the existing Greenbelt path to the Boise River through the Barber area will implement goals in the adopted City comprehensive plan, expand the pathway system, provide better public recreational value, and provide greater community protection for the Boise River. Pathway components of the Boise River system ordinance and the adopted Boise River Resource Management and Master Plan should be implemented to maintain safety, improve users pathway experiences, and maintain the environmental values of the river corridor. Thirteen publicly managed trailhead parking facilities exist for access to the Boise River Greenbelt path system, 11 of which are managed by the City. There are also numerous minor neighborhood access points; however, these do not serve the larger community because they are inadequate or lack public parking spaces and restrooms. The City provides an average of one public trailhead access for every 2.1 miles of Greenbelt path that it manages. Using this figure, the City would need to provide 17 trailheads at completion of the proposed Greenbelt path system. But opportunities for providing new public trailhead accesses for the Greenbelt are limited within Boise s planning area. Seven proposed trailhead locations are identified with potential to provide both public parking spaces and support facilities (restrooms, drinking fountain, trash, management signage, and other elements). Most of the proposed Greenbelt trailhead sites are associated with existing or proposed public parks or other lands. The City should use park and trail impact fees to acquire and construct Greenbelt trailheads as new sections of path are acquired through construction or annexation. The City should also continue to work cooperatively with developers to ensure that appropriate neighborhood access locations are provided and lands and infrastructure for proposed trailhead parking areas are secured. The City should continue to support the Foundation for Ada County Trails and local jurisdictions in efforts to complete the extension of the Boise River Greenbelt path system through Garden City and Eagle. Boise Spur Rail Path (Rails with Trails) 16.0 Miles The City s adopted comprehensive plan recommends that the City pursue development of the Boise spur rail corridor as a rails with trails system. The Comprehensive Parks & Recreation System Plan embraces this concept. The Rails with Trails pathway system would provide significant recreational value and safer linkages with public parks, the Greenbelt, and other planned trail systems. The City has purchased 18 miles of the Boise spur rail line from the Union Pacific Railroad for the possible establishment of a commuter rail system in the region. The City s section of the track starts near the Gown Road Interchange and runs south into rural Ada County. The balance of the railroad corridor to the west is ideally located in the middle of the City s West Bench and Central Bench park planning areas and runs near major employment areas such as the Boise Towne Square, downtown area, and Micron. The rail corridor is approximately 100 feet wide in most places and contains a single track. Although the line is crossed by most of the major north south roads, few local or collector roads cross in between. Most of the public roads that parallel the track lack curb, gutter, and sidewalk improvements. 11. Recreational Trails and Pathway Needs 5

6 The tracks, actively used for commercial freight purposes, are important for the future economic growth of the community. The Boise spur rail corridor should be planned and developed as a Class I path system based on existing conditions, the proven popularity of rail trails in other large communities for recreation and alternative transportation, and the importance of walking and biking in Boise. The Federal Way path parallels a portion of the proposed Rails with Trails path and could serve as an interim link. Eventually, completion of a separate rail trail path in the area of the Federal Way Path may be needed, based on community growth and increased public path use or recreational demand. Funding for acquisition, design, and development should be shared among the various agencies responsible for community transportation and recreation. The City should take a leadership role in planning and managing the proposed Class I path system and identified public trailhead facilities. Partnership opportunities to fund path acquisition and development include federal, state, and private grant sources; City and Ada County Highway District impact fees; general funds; and donations. Canal Trails 20.9 Miles The idea of a multiple-use system of canal trails is discussed in the 1978 Bicycle Pedestrian Design Manual for Ada County. The 1993 Comprehensive Parks & Recreation System Plan recognized the potential for developing a looped multiple-use trail system associated with a number of canals and included a trails element called the South Boise Trail Loop. The South Boise Loop Trail concept included the proposed use of sections of canals, laterals, and the Chevron Pipeline, all of which are generally located in easements and run through much of the built community. Although much of this concept has proven unviable for preservation and development of trail corridors that traversed already built-out areas of the community, the concept included major portions of the New York Canal, which is viable for preservation of a future public trail corridor. Sections of the New York Canal, Farmers Union Canal, Farmers Lateral, and Ten Mile Feeder Canal are widely recognized and used by the community for walking, running, and recreational biking. Recreational use is primarily focused on the ditch rider roads. The identified canals are already substantially protected from development by ownership, development regulations, and semirural locations. General public sentiment suggests that recreational use of the canals is supported and should be addressed by the City to provide for improved safety and management of these potential recreational trail corridors. The City should continue to acquire underlying land rights on identified sections of the New York Canal, Farmers Union Canal, Farmers Lateral, and Ten Mile Feeder Canal. The City should also implement its 2000 Memorandum of Understanding with the Nampa Meridian Irrigation District regarding coordination of, cooperation in, and review of the canal trail proposal. The City should also work with area canal companies, legislators, and the Bureau of Reclamation to address liability issues. Development of a canal trail system will require that the City acquire title to lands constrained by canal easements from private owners. The City will also need to address operational safety and maintenance needs for the continued delivery of irrigation water and provide both neighborhood and community trailhead access points. Boise Parks & Recreation s main emphasis should continue to be on working with developers through the planning process to dedicate and preserve lands within identified canal easements for future trails. Some land outside canal easements will need to be acquired for approximately six planned trailheads. Trail impact fee funds should be used to secure land for trailheads and make related improvements paving, restrooms, drinking fountains, signage, and others to support viable canal path system segments. But these funds should not be used to purchase title to lands that are constrained by Recreational Trails and Pathway Needs

7 canal easements. Private donations and special-purpose grants should also be sought to help fund preservation efforts for canal trails. Oregon Trail Path 6.9 Miles In the early 1990s, the City joined with a number of federal, state, and private development entities to preserve, enhance, and mitigate impacts to a section of land that contained ruts from the Oregon Trail. That effort eventually resulted in protection of more than 68 acres of land and receipt of a federal grant for developing an interpretive trail system and trailhead parking access for the site. The 1993 Comprehensive Parks & Recreation System Plan recognized the importance of preserving the City s Oregon Trail heritage and resulted in the development of new public trails. The City should continue to develop the existing 3.4 miles of interpretive trails by extending the trail system east and west and connecting it into other trail systems. The City could extend a gravel-surfaced trail system to the west using the Idaho Power transmission corridor, construct a Class I paved path adjacent to Amity Road, or combine approaches. The Ada County Highway District should be encouraged to link the Federal Way path to the proposed Oregon Trail extension. Extending the proposed Oregon Trail path system to the south will require acquisition of public land and long-term coordination with various private landowners and developers. Ada County is currently implementing a federal grant to secure public ownership rights for protection of remnants of the Oregon Trail ruts between Highway 21 and Bonneville Point. The City should promote and cooperate in protecting this corridor within its area of impact. Protection of the Oregon Trail to the south would provide interesting interpretive and recreational path opportunities and ensure the protection and management of this unique cultural feature. The City should collaborate with Ada County and others to preserve and manage the Oregon Trail corridor south to Bonneville Point. The City may consider using open space and trail impact fee funds, as well as seeking federal, state and private grant funding sources, to preserve and develop remnant sections of the Oregon Trail within its area of impact. The existing Oregon Trail Historic Reserve Resource Management Plan should be updated and expanded to include proposed new sections of this trail corridor. In addition, the trail and user recommendations of the adopted management plan for this site should be fully implemented. Boise Foothills Trail System 39.3 Miles In the early 1990s, a citizen-driven proposal to create a network of trails across private and public lands was proposed for the Boise Foothills. A partnership was formally established in April 1992 between local, state, and federal agencies to pool limited resources and work collaboratively across jurisdictions for the planning, implementation, and management of the envisioned Boise Foothills trail system. The partnership funded a full-time trails coordinator to acquire legal trail access, sign and map the trail system, and implement a management and maintenance program. The Boise Foothills trail system plan has been one of the three elements of the countywide Ridge to Rivers Pathway Plan since its inception in In the mid-1990s, Boise Parks & Recreation developed a Ridge to Rivers logo to mark nonmotorized trails and pathways that are part of that system. Pathway planning and implementation has evolved since 1993 as each community in Ada County has implemented trails, pathways, or bike lanes. The effort to plan, implement, and manage the Boise Foothills trail system has been referred to as the Ridge to Rivers partnership and the network of trails as the Ridge to Rivers trail system, in part because of the visibility of the logo along marked foothills trails. This branding has helped to identify this network of trails, regardless of jurisdiction. 11. Recreational Trails and Pathway Needs 7

8 The Boise Foothills trail system plan was updated during development of the 2000 Public Lands Open Space Management Plan for the Boise Foothills to include conceptual trail corridors in the west foothills. The unpaved Boise Foothills trail system component could encompass other country trails of the Boise Front, such as the Oregon Trail or those in the Eagle foothills, if partnership agencies deem such incorporation as appropriate and necessary. The trails elements of the Management Plan should be implemented to continue efforts to improve and expand the foothills trail system. Funding for the Boise Foothills trail system partnership comes from the city of Boise, Ada County, Bureau of Land Management, and U.S. Forest Service. The partnership also includes the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Idaho Department of Lands, Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation, and U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service. These latter agencies may provide materials, equipment, and staffing to support maintenance and management of the foothills trail system. Funding agencies are represented through an advisory committee that provides program direction and oversight. Responsibility for administration of partnership funding and staffing was taken on by Boise Parks & Recreation in The Boise Foothills trail system is composed nearly entirely of unpaved, publicly managed, multiple-use trails in the Boise Foothills and encompasses over 75 miles of unpaved trails and primitive roads. The City s portion of the trail system is built on City-owned public open space lands, permanent easements, and lands covered by various license agreements with private landowners. Boise Foothills trails are used almost exclusively for recreation purposes mountain biking, hiking, horseback riding, and wildlife watching although there is, to some extent, motorized uses of trails managed by other Boise Foothills trail partners The trail maintenance season occurs within a narrow window of time during spring and fall. Most operation and maintenance funds are applied toward care of trailheads and restrooms. Replacing signage, repairing vandalism, and picking up trash are close seconds. Current funding allows for a low level of scheduled maintenance, with some minor improvements such as reroutes, puncheons, fences, and others. Use of maintenance impact statements and trail management and maintenance systems help provide funding information for budgeting purposes. Volunteers and juvenile offenders provide addition help so that more can be achieved with the small operating budget. The trail system in the central foothills area is substantially developed and relatively heavily used. A series of existing and proposed trailheads in the foothills area serve as the main access and entry points for this trail system. Trailheads are minimally developed and may provide maps, management signage, and public restroom facilities. The 1993 Comprehensive Parks & Recreation System Plan indicates that the City was responsible for 20.5 miles of the foothills public trail system. The City s portion of this system contained no developed trailheads. In 2003, the City s responsibility for the foothills trail system grew to 24.3 miles and three developed trailheads. The City s 2004 capital budget included approval to develop two new Foothill trailhead parking areas in Challenges in the Boise Foothills trail system include managing trails to reduce potential user conflicts resulting from growth, ensuring that partnership funding is maintained and increased to address trail and trailhead maintenance needs, ensuring that users respect private land rights, securing funding to mitigate off-trail impacts, and addressing advancements in recreation equipment and technology. These challenges can best be addressed by seeking increased funding for maintenance and use education and expanding the system by dispersing trails and trailhead to the western foothills Recreational Trails and Pathway Needs

9 Opportunities for expanding the foothills trail system, particularly in the western foothills area, have been examined under the 2000 Public Lands Open Space Management Plan for the Boise Foothills and should be implemented to disperse use, improve public trail access, and maintain the quality of the foothills trail system. In addition, the plan recommended continued efforts to provide for enforcement and user education. Education can help contain costs for maintenance of the trails and management of trail users. It can also promote users respect for private lands and landowners who have permitted public trails to cross their properties. Efforts should continue in promoting and seeking donations and using volunteers for trail maintenance and management to contain operating costs, educate users about the fragile nature of the foothills, and promote respectful use of the trail system. Federal Way Path 5.5 Miles The Ada County Highway District provided the primary impetus for this Class I paved path system improvement. Funding for the path came from the Ada County Highway District and matching funds from the Federal Highway Administration. The City has maintenance responsibility for approximately 2.6 miles of this pathway system. Although the path includes three public trailhead parking areas, there are no restroom facilities or other support facilities such as drinking fountains or information kiosks. This pathway route provides scenic vistas of the Boise Foothills and downtown area. Use of the recreational path is apparently increasing as people discover it. The path ties into the Capitol Boulevard sidewalk system, which leads to the Boise River Greenbelt. The City should continue to maintain the Federal Way path sections for which it has accepted responsibility. The City should encourage the Ada County Highway District to provide support trailhead facilities, such as drinking fountains, to promote the path s use and provide for public convenience and safety. The City should also provide interconnection between this path system and proposed pathways and park that could be served by the Federal Way path. Boise River Canoe Trail From the diversion dam to its confluence with the Snake River, the Boise River provides a variety of challenges and opportunities for nonmotorized boating. The primary constraint to establishing a canoe trail is the presence of irrigation diversions that can t be run by boaters and that lack take-out and put-in areas for portage around them. Other Public Pathway Linkages and Accesses Numerous minor trail and pathway linkages, known as micro pathways, complement the described recreational trail and pathway systems. The City s planning and zoning ordinance provides criteria and standards for establishing micro pathways, which are intended to interconnect new developments to adjoining subdivisions, parks, schools, and other destination points. Maintenance of micro pathways is generally the responsibility of the respective homeowners associations. However, under specific criteria, elected officials may deem it appropriate that a public agency own and manage a micro pathway. Boise Parks & Recreation should generally not accept new micro pathways, unless the proposed micro pathway connection would clearly provide a direct link to a City park or recreation facility and serve an area larger than the immediate development (that is, be open and available to serve a majority of residents within 0.5 miles or more). Boise Parks & Recreation should support community efforts where a proposed micro pathway would clearly provide an important link between a park 11. Recreational Trails and Pathway Needs 9

10 and neighborhoods within its service area. Under such cases, the City should fund and develop the connection using a combination of general funds, development exactions, grants, and possibly park impact fees where the connection has been identified as a park need in the longrange capital improvement plan. Policy Questions 1. Should the City change its level of service standard for recreational trails and pathways, and if so, how should the standard be calculated? 2. Should the City add additional types of recreational trails and pathways, and if so, where should they be located, what development standards should be followed, how many miles should be planned, and what type of support features should be included? 3. What changes in policies for the management and operation of recreational trails and pathways should be considered? 4. What funding options should be pursued to provide for development and maintenance of recreational trails and pathways? Discussion The City should retain its adopted level of service standard for recreational trails and pathways (0.41 mile per 1,000 residents) to meet current and long-range demands. Using a communitywide standard is desirable since trails and paths are funded by a variety of federal, state, and local sources and used by the entire community. Reducing the standard to reflect the 2002 calculated service ratio would not best serve the community s current or projected demands for recreational trails and pathways. The City s recreational trails and pathways should be managed to promote physical activity and a safe, quality recreational experience for users with all levels of experience. Extending recreational benefits and services to the City s neighborhoods is the primary purpose of these trails and pathways. Interconnecting the recreational pathways and trails system with the transportation system, micro pathways, and major activity nodes is the secondary purpose. Boise Parks & Recreation should not provide or manage on-street alternative travel for public systems such as bike lanes or bike routes, nor should it own or manage micro pathways unless the micro pathway connection would provide an important link between a park and neighborhoods within the Department s service area. Boise Parks & Recreation should take a leadership role in advancing the recreational trails and pathway system. The Department should advance corridor preservation, ensure provisions for public safety, develop and maintain partnerships, seek cooperation in planning and funding of improvements, and encourage connectivity among systems. The City should ensure that adequate funding is provided for maintenance of its system of recreational pathways and trails. Recommendations 1. Continue to provide leadership for the maintenance, management, and expansion of planned recreational trails and pathways needed to serve the community because of growth and increased recreational demands Recreational Trails and Pathway Needs

11 2. Take a leadership role in regional planning efforts related to trails and pathways to ensure coordination, cooperation, connectivity, and funding of planned recreational trails and pathways among agencies and user groups. a. Continue to work with planners and developers through the public planning process to preserve identified public pathway corridors and public trailhead parking access points, provide for trailhead infrastructure needs, and ensure connectivity to new developments. b. Pursue alternative funding mechanisms and partnerships for land acquisitions, development, and maintenance of recreational trails and pathways. c. Continue to support the efforts of the Foundation for Ada County Trails, Southwest Idaho Mountain Biking Association, and other recreational trails and pathways interest and user groups. 3. Adopt and implement the proposed recreational trails and pathways facility plan to ensure that the City maintains adopted recreational trails and pathway standards and expands the identified systems to meet growth demands. a. Retain the current adopted level of service standard of 0.41 mile of recreational trails and pathways per 1,000 residents. b. Participate in the Boise Foothills trails partnership to pool limited funds and increase capacity for maintenance on trails and within reserves. c. Continue to assess an impact fee for recreational trails and pathways to ensure that funding for proposed facilities is provided as growth occurs. i. Use recreational trail and pathway impact fees to expand capacity of the public pathway system through purchasing identified pathway corridors where appropriate; acquiring and developing trailhead parking facilities; upgrading width of existing paved pathways to Class I standards where appropriate; and planning, designing, and constructing new pathways identified in the adopted recreational trails and pathways facility plan. d. Acquire, construct, and maintain trailhead facilities in accordance with the adopted recreational trails and pathways facility plan. i. Consider joint public use of parks, rights-of-ways, and other public lands, where appropriate, for trailhead parking to reduce the cost of acquiring and constructing parking and support facilities. ii. Provide public trail and pathway parking and access at trailhead staging areas. These areas should include parking, orientation, and information signage, as well as any necessary specialized unloading features. Primary trailheads should have restrooms, drinking fountains, and trash receptacles; secondary trailheads may have only some parking and signage. Secondary trailheads may have 3 to 8 parking spaces, whereas primary trailheads may have 20 or more parking spaces. Classification of trailheads as primary or secondary will depend on the expected and desired levels of use. 11. Recreational Trails and Pathway Needs 11

12 e. Support adoption of the City s recreational trails and pathways facility plan as part of Ada County s Ridge to Rivers Pathway Plan. f. Seek adequate funding to meet increased demand for maintenance as user expectations and the number of trail miles and trailheads increase. Funding sources may include general funds, grants, partnerships, volunteerism, donations, and in-kind services from other agencies. 4. Maintain and expand the Boise River Greenbelt path system in accordance with the adopted recreation trails and pathways facility plan. a. Continue efforts to work with Ada County to assume ownership and maintenance responsibility for all annexed sections of the Greenbelt path corridor. b. Implement recommendations for the Greenbelt found in the Boise River Resource Management and Master Plan. c. Seek funding from a variety of sources, including federal, state, and private grants; donations; and trail impact fees to complete identified gaps, develop cross-connections, and expand the Greenbelt path. d. Continue to work through the planning and zoning process to implement the Boise River system ordinance to maintain public safety, recreational values, and environmental values of the river corridor. e. Ensure compliance with Class I pathway standards where appropriate. f. Ensure that all projects affecting the Greenbelt pathway comply with Boise Parks & Recreation s design standards and construction specifications. 5. Develop a Class I pathway along the existing railroad tracks and identified sidings and spurs as part of the Rails with Trails pathway system. a. Work with Boise Urban Stages, Ada County Highway District, railroad companies, and other entities to secure ownership of the Boise rail spur and sidings. b. Develop a master plan for development of a Class I pathway within the rail corridor and implement all recommendations of the plan. c. Ensure that all projects affecting the Union Pacific Railroad corridor preserve the corridor and comply with applicable Class I pathway standards. d. Seek funding from a variety of sources, including federal, state, and private grants; donations; and trail impact fees to construct the proposed Rails with Trails path system. e. Work through the planning and zoning process to implement the rail plan to preserve the corridor and enhance public safety and recreational values within the rail corridor. 6. Implement a system of canal trails through preserving and managing identified canal trail corridors and addressing user safety for these areas Recreational Trails and Pathway Needs

13 a. Continue to work with developers, private landowners, and other ownership interests to acquire underlying land rights on identified sections of the New York Canal, Farmers Union Canal, Farmers Lateral, and Ten Mile Feeder Canal. b. Implement the Memorandum of Understanding with the Nampa Meridian Irrigation District regarding coordination of, cooperation in, and review of the canal trail proposal. c. Work with area canal companies, legislators, and the Bureau of Reclamation to address liability issues. d. Seek funding from a variety of sources, including federal, state, and private grants; private donations; and impact fees to provide for the planning, design, and construction of improvements in the canal trail path system, such as trailheads, restrooms, and public safety features. 7. Preserve and extend a public trail corridor adjacent to the historic Oregon Trail route. a. Assist and collaborate with Ada County, other agencies, and private groups to advance efforts to plan, preserve, extend, and manage the Oregon Trail corridor to Bonneville Point for purposes of historic preservation, public trails, interpretation, and sustainable recreation. b. Provide for outdoor education and interpretive experiences along new sections of the Oregon Trail path. c. Seek funding from a variety of sources, including federal, state, and private grants; donations; and both trail and open space impact fees to preserve and construct the proposed path system. 8. Continue the partnership for the Boise Foothills trails system. a. Provide funding, leadership, and other resources necessary to maintain and expand the Boise Foothills trail system. b. Implement the trails components of the Public Lands Open Space Management Plan for the Boise Foothills. c. Develop strategies for limiting conflicts between trail users, wildlife, and sensitive habitat areas. d. Seek adequate funding to maintain trails and trailheads and mitigate environmental impacts from increased trail use. e. Continue to secure temporary license agreements and permanent easements for access through private properties for foothills trails. f. Collaborate with other agencies to leverage funds and expand the Boise Foothills trail system across jurisdictions. g. Seek alternative funding from a variety of sources, including federal, state, and private grants; donations; and trail impact fees to expand the Boise Foothills trail system and provide trailhead facilities. 11. Recreational Trails and Pathway Needs 13

14 h. Collaborate with private landowners, trail and open space advocacy groups, citizens, and other agencies to sustain the foothills trail system, promote user education, and maintain the recreational and natural resource values associated with the trail system. 9. Encourage use of the Class I Federal Way path. a. Fund and provide maintenance for the sections of the Federal Way path for which the City has accepted responsibility. b. Encourage and collaborate with the Ada County Highway District to add trailhead support facilities such as restrooms, drinking fountains, and other improvements that provide for public convenience and safety. c. Encourage the Ada County Highway District to provide interconnection between the Federal Way path system and the proposed Oregon Trail path extension along Amity Road by including this alignment in its bike pathways plan. 10. Support development and expansion of the Boise River Canoe Trail concept through Boise and its area of impact. a. Establish safe portages around in-stream structures that do not accommodate canoe passage. b. Develop appropriate launch and take-out support facilities. Where possible, develop such facilities for shared use by a range of river-oriented recreational users. c. Cooperate with irrigation companies; the Bureau of Reclamation; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; and other water users, regulating agencies, and special interest groups to fund and implement safety modifications for in-stream structures. 11. Support development of other public path links that provide direct access to parks and recreation facilities and help interconnect neighborhoods. a. Develop connecting pathways and trails throughout the community to provide linkages to schools, parks, and other destination points. Trails and pathways that are not identified in the adopted facility plan should be reviewed case by case to determine whether they should be part of the City's capital program for specific parks and recreation facilities. b. Encourage developers to provide pathways through proposed developments, where such improvements would provide needed links between neighborhoods; public trails and pathways; and public destinations such as schools, parks, libraries, and shopping centers. 12. Avoid or minimize adverse impacts associated with advances in recreation equipment and technology to maintain the community s desired level of recreational pathway services and ensure safe user experiences Recreational Trails and Pathway Needs

15 a. Except for recognized public safety and maintenance needs, continue to ban use of motorized conveyance devices (such as golf carts, motorized scooters, Mopeds, and Segway transporters) on recreational pathways. b. Provide facilities for BMX, bicycle skills, equestrian use, and skateboarding at select locations in the community. c. Support existing laws and policies that allow appropriate nighttime use of recreational trails and pathways. 13. Maintain and implement management and design standards appropriate to individual recreational trails and pathways to ensure public safety and convenience, protect public infrastructure, and maintain recreational values. a. Consider recreational experiences of users as the primary purpose of recreational trails and pathways and connectivity to other parts of the community as the secondary purpose. b. Whenever possible, separate recreation trails and pathways from roadways. c. Maximize the number and diversity of viewing opportunities along recreation trails and pathways. d. Consider soil conditions, steep slopes, surface drainage, and other physical limitations that could increase construction costs of trail alignments and/or maintenance costs. e. Plan, size, and design trails for multiple uses, except for dedicated nature trails or areas that cannot be developed to the standard necessary to minimize potential user conflicts. f. Loop and interconnect trails and pathways to provide a variety of trail lengths and destinations. They should link various parts of the community, as well as existing park sites. g. Locate and design trails to provide a diversity of challenges. Enhance accessibility wherever possible, with high priority being nature trails and loop or destination opportunities on portions of trails near staging areas. h. Where recreational trails or pathways parallel a public street, design the route to avoid conflicts between motorists and trail users. i. Maintain a trail management plan for routes within the City s open space properties. Establish a classification for various types of trails and address width, surfacing, and maintenance activities appropriate to each trail s designated use(s), level of use, and maintenance needs. 11. Recreational Trails and Pathway Needs 15

16 Proposed Recreational Trails and Pathways Facility Plan Final Draft Plan PDF\Map Pathways Plan.pdf Recreational Trails and Pathway Needs

17 Boise Foothills Trail Inventory \\Parks_1\vol1\USERS\DSELVAGE\WP\BPRPLAN_02\background info\trailmaster0302.xls Sources Mentioned Bicycle Pedestrian Design Manual for Ada County, 1978 Comprehensive Parks & Recreation System Plan, 1993 Oregon Trail Historic Reserve Resource Management Plan, September 1997 Boise River Resource Management and Master Plan, 1999 Public Lands Open Space Management Plan for the Boise Foothills, adopted December 5, 2000 Ridge to Rivers Pathway Plan Boise Foothills trail system plan (part of the Ridge to Rivers Pathway Plan) City of Boise ordinances regarding planning and zoning and the Boise River system Inter-modal Surface Transportation Enhancement Act (ISTEA) 11. Recreational Trails and Pathway Needs 17