The Trails That Built My Boise

Growing up at the base of the east end foothills in Boise, the outdoors was my playground, my classroom, and my escape. Summer meant launching into the river from the rope swing by the orange bridge, and mountain biking through the Military Reserve. Back then, I didn’t know about levy funds or land acquisition. I simply tucked the sagebrush into my pigtails and called the hills, trails near the river, and pockets of open space my home.Over the years, I built my life in Boise—raising two kids and a puppy named Greta who became the best trail buddy you could imagine. Together, we skipped rocks at what felt like our own beach near Kristin Armstrong Park, took photos of wildflowers near Bogus, and pedaled the Greenbelt together. Those places shaped my family, just as they shaped me.In my work with the Idaho Conservation League, I learned these landscapes don’t stay wild by accident. The 2015 open space levy was a turning point—when Boiseans overwhelmingly said “yes” to protecting the places we love. The City of Boise’s levy funds have safeguarded the landscapes that shaped my childhood, nurtured my family, and sustained my spirit during moments of sadness. I have built my professional career advocating for wild open spaces. I wrote Urban Trails: Boise during COVID, when my home had grown quieter. In those months, the trails became my constant companion. Getting outside was more than exercise—it was a form of mental respite, a way to breathe deeply when everything else felt uncertain. Today, my kids are out making their own lives, and the old pup has passed on. But, the trails are still my lifeline—a way to breathe deeply and feel connected when the world feels uncertain.In November, we have the chance to protect even more of what we love. Let’s ensure future generations can launch into the river, live a walkable distance to shady green parks, ride those dusty foothill trails, and raise new puppies in the beautiful backyard we call home. Vote YES for Boise’s open space, pathways, and clean water levy this November.