Boise Mayor Dave Bieter and other government and community leaders announced Thursday the completion of public art and a state-of-the-art parkour course at Rhodes Park.
The park was recently revamped thanks to donations from a number of community partners, including a $1.25 million gift from the Albertsons Family Foundation. One million dollars was used to upgrade the skate park, turning it into a world-class facility -- that has attracted an ESPN X Games Park Qualifier June 9-10.
The City of Boise contributed $300,000 toward the skate park improvement project.
The additional $250,000 from the J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Family Foundation was used to improve the area with new lighting, sustainable landscaping and public art, according to a news release from the Boise City Parks and Recreation Department.
The art was completed by four teams of regional artists and includes 11-foot tall sculpted letters emerging from the earth spelling "Rhodes" by Trademark Sign Company; "States of Flow", a perimeter fence that was inspired by the specific shapes and styles of skateboard tricks by Perri Howard; mixed-media murals titled "Integration" describing the inextricability of people and their environment by Sector Seventeen; and, historical and sculptural signage by Stephanie Inman, the release said.
The City of Boise contributed more than $1 million to complete the Rhodes Park renovation.
"We intentionally looked at the Rhodes Park project as a way to integrate art into the urban environment, using a team approach," said Boise Arts and History Director Terri Schorzman. “That direction led to great results, offering the public a powerful and unique-to-Boise experience."
In addition, parkour athletes provided input on the features of the new urban obstacle course, which is only the second of its kind in the nation. The course was designed by Seattle firm GGLO, LLC.
"The public art, landscaping and parkour course were all designed to create a park experience that energizes the surrounding neighborhood," said Boise Parks and Recreation Director Doug Holloway. "We're encouraged by the revitalization we've already seen in the area."
Rhodes Park is a 1.28-acre site in downtown Boise's Linen District between 15th and 16th streets underneath the I-184 connector. It was originally constructed in the mid-1990s by Glenn Rhodes and community and city volunteers.
