Idaho Smart Growth

Bringing People Together To Create Great Places To Live

February Citizens Planning Academy

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So we’re the fastest growing state, how does planning fit in?

Wednesday, February 6 at 6 PM. Free and open to the public.

Attend Online:

Join remotely from any internet-connected device by clicking this link: https://uidaho.zoom.us/j/236930382

Attend in-person:

U of I Legacy Pointe Conference Room, Idaho Water Center, 322 E. Front Street, Boise. Free off-street parking is available in the Idaho Water Center and Ada County Courthouse garages. More information and links maps can be found here.

The first session of the year will be a panel including:

Kelli Badesheim

Kelli Badesheim–
Kelli is the executive director of Valley Regional Transit. She serves on the COMPASS (Community Planning Association of Southwest Idaho) board, is president of the board of the Community Transportation Association of Idaho and a founding member of the Treasure Valley Chapter of WTS International, an association dedicated to the advancement of women in the transportation industry.

Rob Hopper–
Rob serves as the vice president of the Idaho Smart Growth board. He has served on the Caldwell City Council since 2001, chairs the city’s urban renewal commission and is the chairman of the Valley Regional Transit Board of Directors. He is an IT manager at Blue Cross of Idaho.

Patricia Nilsson

Patricia Nilsson–
Patricia is the development services director for Canyon County. She has been a public sector planner for agriculture-based counties in Virginia, Pennsylvania and Idaho for more than 30 years. She has extensive experience in long-range planning and has been a project manager of a multimillion dollar open space and farmland preservation program.

Jaap Vos

Jaap Vos-
Jaap is the program head of the University of Idaho Bioregional Planning and Community Design program and the director of the Urban Design Center in Boise. Prior to joining the University of Idaho, Jaap was director of the planning program for Boise State University.

The C.P.A. is a collaboration of Idaho Smart Growth and the University of Idaho’s College of Law in Boise and Bioregional Planning Program. Monthly sessions are designed to help citizens become effective advocates on a wide range of planning topics.

RSVP office@idahosmartgrowth.org. Learn more about the series here or view past session videos on our YouTube channel.

2018 by the numbers

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Happy New Year!

We hope your 2019 is off to a great start! As we embark on the new year, we wanted to take a brief moment to look back. Check out some of the ways Idaho Smart Growth has empowered citizens and activated change from the state to the citizen level in 2018.

Technical Assistance:

Idaho Smart Growth provides technical assistance to communities around the state helping to create safe, healthy, vibrant communities. In 2018, we worked with 5 communities bringing stakeholders together on a variety of projects including: wayfinding plans, comprehensive plans, and neighborhood placemaking. Click here to view examples of this work.

We recently finished work with Idaho Falls, conducting visioning workshops for south downtown. Click to view the full report here. How might we help you? Click for the full list of services.

Grow Smart Awards:

With 114 awards since 2005, the Grow Smart Awards continues to grow, recognizing those working hard to practice smart growth in Idaho.

In 2018, Idaho Smart Growth celebrated 11 projects and people for excellence in smart growth. Click here to view the full list of recipients.

This year, also brought new outreach and programming to celebrate past and current Grow Smart Awards recipients. Click here to read more about the growth of this program.

Safe Routes to School:

In 2018, Idaho Smart Growth held the first ever statewide convening of safe routes workers with 15 coordinators attending. The statewide convening allowed coordinators to learn from each other and to network and build a stronger voice for safe routes. Click here to view notes from the convening.

For more information on our Safe Routes to School program, click here.

Citizens Planning Academy:

In its second year, 44 citizens attended our Citizens Planning Academy (CPA). The Citizens Planning Academy continues to connect citizens to information and tools to become more engaged and better informed advocates.

With 18 sessions since the program began, this year we were excited to add the option for attendees to join the session remotely. We also have recordings of the sessions available on our youtube channel.

Happy Holidays from Idaho Smart Growth!

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Holiday Photo of ISG

As we start to tie a ribbon on 2018 and look ahead to the next year, I have a couple of thoughts to share.

We know the U.S. Census named Idaho the fastest-growing state last year, at 2.2%. We grew by nearly 37,000 new Idahoans, mostly in a few metro areas around the state. In numbers alone, it’s not so impressive–sixteen U.S. metros each added more people than our whole state did. But the impact is proportionally more dramatic here. Most of us have come, stayed or returned to Idaho precisely to avoid the challenges of those large population numbers. Rapid population growth threatens the quality of life and the natural beauty that all of us value.

What can we do about it? Many want to build more roads and suburbs for the growth, similar to the metros they are fleeing. Others want to block new developments altogether and live in their own “private Idaho.” Neither approach is practical or sustainable. Or friendly.

At Idaho Smart Growth we know that growth and change can be painful but potentially rewarding. Our work is based on the idea that everyone has a stake in their communities, and that all stakeholders should be engaged in community issues. That means being interested, educated and involved—which is where we’re trying to make a difference. We’re working across Idaho to help people become active participants in how their communities deal with growth, or decline. Below are a few examples of what we’ve been up to, and more information is available on our website.

We know you are interested in this work, too. As Idaho grows, so does the need for Idaho Smart Growth. To keep up, we are dependent on the support of individuals and groups around the state. If you haven’t already, please take a moment to consider whether you can contribute. Check out our donate page to learn more.

Thank you for an engaging and rewarding year! I hope you have a fabulous holiday season and an excellent new year to come!

Scot

Wildfire Planning and Preparedness

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2016 Boise Table Rock Fire, above, from Harris Ranch; below, aerial view the day after.

Community wildfire planning is a leading smart growth issue of our time.

As Idaho continues its growth streak, development encroaches into areas where wildfires historically occur. Fire is a critical natural process—it’s only a disaster when people or property are harmed. Wildfire planning and preparedness is more important than ever.

This coming year Idaho Smart Growth will join the Idaho Department of Lands, University of Idaho and Boise State University to conduct workshops around the state that will bring professional expertise to local communities to discuss wildfire preparedness planning, share strategies to minimize impacts and planning for post-event recovery.

Creating great places to live means places that are resilient in the face of hazards.
Will you help expand our work with Idaho communities to plan for wildfire?

Photo: top KBOI; above Aaron Hassemer.

The costs of wildfire have never been higher. Your support has never been more important. Please consider a tax-deductible year-end contribution to Idaho Smart Growth so we can do more with Idaho communities on wildfire planning—and the rest of our smart growth activities. You can help shape the future and protect what makes Idaho so special.

Please click to make your tax-deductible contribution. Thank you!

Growing the Grow Smart Awards in 2018

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Paddy Tillet with Grove Plaza award recipients

Laura Williams, Doug Woodruff, Paddy Tillett and Ryan Armbruster celebrate the Grow Smart Award for the Grove Plaza.

Our cornerstone annual event celebrated its 14th year on November 5th with the largest attendance and a dynamic keynote by Paddy Tillett touching on the significance of planning for the future, while highlighting how far we have come. The tone of the evening was celebratory, with a record number of projects receiving recognition for exemplifying smart growth principles. Check out the full list of awards here.

With the sunset of Idaho’s first urban renewal district, in the heart of downtown Boise, our Grow Smart Awards event created the perfect opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments within the district and the importance of urban renewal as a smart growth tool. The event was held at Boise Centre East and was free to attend this year, thanks in part to Presenting Sponsor Capital City Development Corporation. We hope to continue the trend set this year and grow the event again next year! During the evening’s event, CCDC premiered a special video highlighting the district, check out clips from the video below.

Thank you to all the wonderful volunteers and sponsors who helped make the event happen. Check out the photo album from the event on our Facebook page, linked here.

Moving Beyond Boise

With 14 years of awarded projects around the state, we have a unique opportunity to bring the celebration outside of Boise as well. This year, we ventured to the Wood River Valley. With half a dozen awards hailing from the region, bringing a Grow Smart Awards event to Ketchum offered an opportunity to celebrate the local award recipients within their local community. Photos below are from the event.

The event provided an opportunity to recognize some of the projects that have made the wood river valley a better place to live, work and recreate. Idaho Smart Growth also presented an award to Dale Bates, 2017 Charles Hummel Award recipient, honoring the role he played in developing the Town Square, the Fourth Street Heritage Corridor and a local residential project.

The city of Ketchum took a leading role in crafting the event, calling it “A Fair on the Square.” Mayor Neil Bradshaw wanted the event to bridge the accomplishments of the past with a chance to garner public comments on ideas for future city projects. Right in line with Idaho Smart Growth’s mission, in creating the event, Mayor Bradshaw said, “Participation and public input is vital to creating a healthy community and a vibrant town.” We agree Mayor Bradshaw! We look forward to bringing the Grow Smart Awards around the state, with our next event happening in spring 2019. Stay tuned!

Walking Tour

Serving as the formal announcement of this year’s award recipients, Idaho Smart Growth hosted our first Walking Tour and Porch Party. The brainchild of ISG board member Sarah Martz, the event was an opportunity to further highlight previous award recipients and continue to raise awareness of the program.

In our inaugural tour, attendees heard from project leaders and toured the facilities of four downtown locations including: the Veltex building, on the corner of 5th and Main; 10 Barrel, on the corner of 9th and Jefferson; the Afton, on the corner of 8th and River; and finished with a tour and porch party at CSHQA headquarters, on the corner of 2nd and Broad.

The tour called attention to the details jurors acknowledged when reviewing the nomination. It also served as an opportunity to tour several locations exemplifying smart growth that have never been nominated, Freak Alley for example.

“Anyone can nominate! It’s easy and we’re happy to help you! Projects don’t have to be new or current!” says Deanna Smith, program coordinator for Idaho Smart Growth.

Nominations will open for the 2019 Grow Smart Awards in early spring. If you would like more information about the nomination and application process, contact our office.

Join us for our Holiday Social!

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Holiday Social 2018

It’s a holiday tradition! Join us for our annual holiday gathering on Thursday, December 6th from 4:30-7pm to celebrate smart growth, socialize and network. We’re teaming up again with ULI Idaho and U.S. Green Building Council Idaho to promote collaboration on responsible development in Idaho.

Appetizers will be provided and a cash bar serving drinks.

Thanks to CTA Architects and Engineers for hosting us!

The event is FREE, bring a friend! RSVP on Facebook or by emailing office@idahosmartgrowth.org

Thank you to our event sponsors: Bittercreek Alehouse, Holland & Hart, Lee & Associates, McKibben + Cooper, Urban Land Development, and Zhoo Zhoo

Remember us this #GivingTuesday!

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Giving Tuesday logo

#givingtuesdayThis #GivingTuesday we want to hear from YOU. Why is smart growth important to you? Do your reasons match up with a way to support Idaho Smart Growth?
We hope to hear from you. Share your giving story using #GrowSmartGiveSmart

Security & Privacy

Your contact information, including email, allows us to keep you informed of smart growth issues in a timely fashion. All credit card processing is handled with 128-bit Secure Socket Layer, SSL, and encryption. If you do not want to join or donate online, you can call (208) 333-8066.  If you prefer to donate by check or money order, you may mail a contribution to:

Idaho Smart Growth
910 Main St., Ste 314
Boise, ID 83702

Walk to School Day 2018

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71 Idaho Schools registered to participate in Walk to School Day 2018.

This is a 82% INCREASE over 2017! Way to go Idaho!

Safe Routes Chart for 2018

Eastern Idaho

Eastern Idaho led the pack with 26 total schools participating, including 20 schools in the city of Idaho Falls. The Safe Routes to School program in Idaho Falls is coordinated through the Bonneville Metropolitan Planning Organization which has taken the lead in planning for walking and biking in the region. They have a robust Walking School Bus program and use Walk to School Day to try and affect lasting change, encouraging more students to walk regularly.

In addition to urging more kids to join the Walking School Bus program, activities included; meeting at the park and walking together to school, free breakfast at school on Walk to School Day, walking at school if you arrive by bus and more. Activities were led by volunteers at each of the schools.

Moscow

Nora and Bill walking school busIn Moscow 10 schools shared in the fun with 2 charter schools and a private school joining all seven of the district’s public schools. Many students and parents participated. Students could walk to any school from home or a designated location.

Walking groups with supervising adults, called a Walking School Bus, were organized at some locations. There were park and walk locations near each school for children who wanted to walk but live too far away.

The mayor facilitated a walk from downtown and University of Idaho students hosted Walk at School events, where students dropped off by car or bus can could join in by walking around the school grounds before class.

Sandpoint

There was participation in Walk to School Day at every school in the district this year with nearly 1,000 students participating!  From parents to community leaders, the day featured students walking to school with an emphasis on pedestrian safety, physical activity, and community connections.

Washington Elementary School had 191 students – their biggest group ever – along with Principal Hamer and community leaders Mayor Shelby Rognstad and Steve Lockwood who made an 8 block trek together. Principal Olson, city officials and police officers, teachers, and parent volunteers joined 100 students walking at Farmin-Stidwell Elementary.

Special bus stops allowed bus students in Kootenai to walk along with Principal Knowles and Idaho Representative Sage Dixon, and drew 75 students. Over 480 students were part of Walk at School events at the rural schools in the district.

Safe Routes to School encouraged those traveling by car to park a few blocks away and finish their journey on foot.

Treasure Valley

Cynthia Mann Walk to School DayIdaho’s biggest program is housed in the Treasure Valley YMCA and serves multiple school districts and communities. There were individual events at schools across the valley run by local volunteers. These included Walk, Ride, and Roll events. Boise city council members Holli Woodings, Lisa Sanchez and Elaine Clegg participated at various locations, as did the police chief and many officers, the fire department and police dog Scout.

The Boise Police Department led a big group, including some city council members, from Winstead Park to Morley Nelson Elementary where they were greeted with snacks and activities. At Cynthia Mann Elementary there were greeters at the crosswalks and both pathway entrances to the school grounds.

The Safe Routes to School program also sponsored a Bike Rodeo at Galileo STEM Academy where ITD Transportation Alternatives Program Manager Ryan McDaniel helped. Check out the video they created!

In Meridian, Idaho Walk Bike Alliance and the American Heart Association joined in the fun at Hunter Elementary School to highlight the importance of good infrastructure.

Wood River Valley

Mountain Rides organizes a trail ride day in October and concentrates other events in the spring.

Mayor’s Walking Challenge

Moscow Mayor with studentsThere is a natural partnership between Safe Routes to School and other walking events.

Many of the mayors in Idaho who participate in the Mayor’s Walking Challenge use Walk to School Day as part of the challenge, including Shawn Barigar in Twin Falls, Gordon Petrie in Emmett, Tammy DeWeerd in Meridian and Homedale’s Gheen Christofferson.

Pictured is Mayor Bill Lambert on Walk to School day in Moscow’s Friendship Square.

PARK(ing) Day – Thoughts from Idaho

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2018 Park(ing) Day in Boise, Idaho can be called a success!

With 9 parklets in 6 locations around the city, we had more than twice as many parklets than ever before and 5 new locations including two strip mall parking lots supported by a National Street Service grant. Parklets at Vista Village and the Collister Shopping Center were the main focus of the grant, aimed at re-imagining shopping center parking spaces as community gathering places.

Parklets dotted Boise’s landscape with locations including: Vista Village, Collister Shopping Center, the North End, and downtown locations at DL Evans Bank (9th and Main), along 8th Street and outside City Hall (Main and Capitol). Stakeholders across different backgrounds spearheaded these efforts with parklets created by Idaho Walk Bike Alliance, American Heart Association, Ada County Highway District’s Commuteride, D.L. Evans Bank, Stack Rock Group, the city of Boise’s Energize Our Neighborhoods, Vista Healthy Corridor, North End Neighborhood and Collister Neighborhood.

In a story from the Idaho Business Review about the event, Deanna explained the vision,

[Parklets are] just one more way to rethink our streets. Our streets are a very important asset, and we’re not getting all we want our of our streets.

The article continues with a quote from the original PARK(ing) Day manual,

Urban inhabitants worldwide recognize the need for new approaches to making the urban landscape, and realize that converting small segments of the automobile infrastructure – even temporarily – can alter the character of the city.

What we learned:

  • Partners are important
  • Location matters – especially in a parking lot
  • Get an earlier start to get the word out and alert the media
  • Give something away
  • Parking lots have their own set of challenges
  • Materials available for loan removed a barrier to doing a parklet
  • Parklets or other pop-ups can be educational but only second to fun

How we measured our impact:

  • 62 ice cream scoops given to those visiting the Collister parklet and completing a comment card
  • We gained new partners in the community
  • We shared education about how to do a parklet
  • We emptied our storage unit of loaned parklet items
  • Parklet organizers reported positive feedback from the public
  • Parklets were features in articles in Idaho Business Review and Boise Weekly
  • Parklets moved beyond Boise as well. ASLA highlighted parklets around the region.

What happens next?

The city of Boise is working towards creating a pop-up park policy to make the process easier and more streamlined for future events. As we work towards a pop-up park policy with the city and ACHD, the more people engaged, the more demand for changing policy!

Boise is in its infancy when it comes to tactical urbanism, but Idaho Smart Growth will continue to help the movement grow by encouraging more people to use pop-ups to activate our streets.

We want the public to see such use of our streets as an everyday occurrence, not just something that happens on park(ing) day. We don’t want people asking, “What’s this event?” we want people to say, “Check out the new pop-up park. Let’s go hang out over there!”

Take a look at all the great photos from events around Boise on our Facebook page!

November Citizens Planning Academy

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Historic Preservation: Linking Past, Present and Future

Wednesday, November 7, 6 – 7:30 PM. Free and open to the public.
U of I Legacy Pointe Conference Room, Idaho Water Center, 322 E. Front Street, Boise.

Free off-street parking is available in the Idaho Water Center and Ada County Courthouse garages. More information and links maps can be found here. 

Presenter: Renée Magee

Renee-MageeRenée Magee, an Idaho Smart Growth board member, has worked in historic preservation for almost thirty years.  She has worked as a historic preservation planner, served on the Idaho Historic Sites Review Board and now serves on the Idaho Falls Historic Preservation Commission.  She worked in Idaho Falls as planning director and assistant planning director from 1989 to 2013.  She has also worked in Wyoming, Washington, and Pennsylvania as a city and county planner, city attorney and associate professor.

The C.P.A. is a collaboration of Idaho Smart Growth and the University of Idaho’s College of Law in Boise and Bioregional Planning Program. Monthly sessions are designed to help citizens become effective advocates on a wide range of planning topics.

RSVP to attend by emailing office@idahosmartgrowth.org. Can’t make it in person? You can attend remotely with this link: https://uidaho.zoom.us/j/236930382

Learn more about the series here or view past session videos on our YouTube channel.

Idaho Smart Growth | (208) 333-8066
910 Main Street Suite 314 | Boise, ID 83702
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