Idaho's closed horse track reopens as $42m public park with restored wetlands

The transformation of abandoned spaces into public green spaces can offer a new life to landscapes that had once served a different purpose. In Garden City, Idaho, a former horse-racing track that fell silent in 2015 has now been reopened on the 23rd of October as a nearly 50 acre public park built on the former Les Bois horse racing track along the Bois River Greenbelt, bringing about restored wetlands, nature trails and recreational spaces along the Boise River.

Known as the Park at Expo Idaho, the $42 million development funded through the American Rescue Plan Act gives the community a new outdoor destination with its olympic class skate park and playgrounds while bringing the site's natural landscape back into focus.The park occupies the former site of Les Bois Park, a horse-racing venue that became inactive after horse- racing wagering ended in 2015. Following this closure, Ada County began exploring how the land could be put to a different use.

Its location along the Boise River floodplain, with a direct connection to the Boise River Greenbelt together became a great opportunity to create a public space that is an exemplar of recreation and restoration.

How the park is bringing wetlands back to life

One of the defining features of the new park is its restored wetland landscape, which provides a natural contrast to the recreational spaces surrounding it. The Lowlands area includes wetland habitats, stream channels, native vegetation and a boardwalk that allows visitors to explore the landscape while remaining on designated paths.

Wetlands play an important role in the environment, helping provide habitats for wildlife, retain water and trap sediment. The restored waterways also create spaces where fish can move and spawn, while native vegetation offers food and shelter for birds and other animals. The design had to account for the Boise River's flood capacity, with planners working alongside the US Army Corps of Engineers to balance wetland restoration with the river's natural flow.

The restoration has already begun attracting wildlife. During a visit before the park's opening, project staff reported seeing fish in the streams, along with frogs, salamanders and a variety of birds. Kestrels and kingfishers were among the species observed around the wetlands, offering an early indication of how the restored habitat is being used by wildlife.The planting effort has involved more than a million plants and starter plugs, alongside trees and shrubs that will gradually establish themselves across the landscape.

The park may take several years to reach its full growth, but the return of wildlife suggests that the ecological benefits are already beginning to emerge.

An olympic-designed skate park and nature playground

Alongside its natural spaces, the Park at Expo Idaho has been designed to accommodate a wide range of outdoor activities. One of its major attractions is the All-Wheel Skate Garden, designed by California Skateparks, the company behind the skateboarding venue used at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The facility includes features for different experience levels and is intended for skateboards, bikes, scooters and roller skates. There is also a dedicated roller derby rink which is another recreational option, giving local sports communities a space to practise and play.Other facilities include gathering areas, a food truck plaza and spaces for events and live music. More than 3 miles of trails wind through the park's ridges, valleys and restored wetlands, while the connection to the Boise River Greenbelt makes it easier for visitors to explore the wider riverfront area.The park also retains reminders of its former identity. Elements inspired by the horse-racing venue have been incorporated into parts of the design wonderfully, allowing visitors to experience the site's history alongside its renewed purpose. By bringing together wetland restoration, native planting and recreational facilities, the Park at Expo Idaho offers more than a new place for outdoor activities.