BOISE, Idaho — The City of Boise is committed to creating spaces for children of all ages and abilities to learn, grow and play. Mayor Dave Bieter and city leaders gathered at Cottonwood Park Wednesday to dedicate the city’s newest playground.
“It is important that the City of Boise provides recreational experiences for kids of all abilities and this new playground at Cottonwood Park is a great example of our commitment to the community,” said Mayor Bieter. “We’re proud to offer this new playground experience for the next generation of Boiseans and I have no doubt this park will be a destination for families from across our community due to its innovative design and amenities.”
Cottonwood Park is located in West Boise (4350 N. Colonial Park Way) next to Pioneer Elementary School. The goal of the newly installed playground at the 8-acre park is to provide multi-sensory experiences for park users and encourage all children to play no matter their age, ability or stage of development.
“This playground is an incredible addition for the neighborhood and West Boise community,” said Boise Council Member TJ Thomson. “It gives children the opportunity to play in a variety of different ways while encouraging positive social interaction and outdoor recreation.”
Neighbors were given the opportunity to weigh in on their preferred playground design last year, and the playground setup installed was the overwhelming favorite.
Playground features include climbing walls and a finger maze to promote tactile based play, bells for auditory stimulation, binoculars for visual play and equipment designed to encourage children of all abilities to explore. Ten-foot swings and a Ten Spin inclusive motion spinner also promote social play at Cottonwood Park. In addition, a special bonded rubber fall material was installed underneath the playground – the surface is easy to navigate for people who use assistive mobility devices and provides a soft surface for all playground users.
Another cool feature new to Cottonwood Park is a more than 100-foot long zip line that stretches across the edge of the playground. Children can glide through the air between a set of platforms.
“The new inclusive playground at Cottonwood Park is an important addition to our park system,” said Doug Holloway, Boise Parks and Recreation Director. “We’re committed to increasing accessibility and inclusivity at our playgrounds and will be installing bonded rubber fall material at several other park locations over the next year.”
City of Boise parks scheduled to receive the new playground fall material include (weather and funding availability dependent):
- Ann Morrison Park (1000 S. Americana Blvd.)
- Camel’s Back Park (1200 Heron St.)
- Castle Hills Park (5350 Eugene St.)
- Fairview Park (2300 W. Idaho St.)
- Morris Hill Park (10 N. Roosevelt St.)
- Simplot Sports Complex (2401 E. Lake Forest Dr.)
Cottonwood Park’s new playground is open sunrise to sunset daily. The park also features basketball courts, a walking path and open play areas for recreational activities. To view the master plan for Cottonwood Park, click here.
