The Park at Expo Idaho transforms a former racehorse track into an 88-acre riverside park that prioritizes urban biodiversity, year-round active recreation, and nature-based play.

Garden City (Boise), ID
Ada County
The Park at Expo Idaho transforms a former horse racing track into a vibrant, multi-use public space that integrates the spaces of the park with the adjacent Expo Idaho, enhances ecological restoration, and provides multi-generational recreational opportunities. Located along the Boise River and the popular Greenbelt trail network, the park provides a once-in-a-generation opportunity to enhance urban biodiversity while offering inclusive spaces for play, community, and learning.
At its core, the park restores the site’s connection to the Boise River floodplain, reversing decades of disconnection caused by development. Hydraulic and topographic interventions reintroduce historic watercourses, create wetland habitats, and provide flood storage, all while boosting the site’s biodiversity and improving water quality. These interventions support both the natural environment and the park’s diverse recreational programs.
Key features of the landscape design include:
The Park at Expo Idaho demonstrates how thoughtful design can transform urban spaces into destinations that celebrate natural systems and community vitality, creating a lasting legacy for the Boise region.
SERVICES
Landscape Planning + Design
Landscape Architecture
COLLABORATORS
Architect: Marlon Blackwell Architects
Civil: Horrocks, Inc.
Hydrology: Rio ASE
Permitting: Ecosystem Sciences
Ecology: Great Ecology
Skatepark: California Skateparks
Playground: Studio Ludo
Operations: Pros Consulting
Costing: Dharam Consulting
MEP: TJK Consulting Engineers
Structural: Plan North
Irrigation: Baer Design Group, LLC
Geotech: Atlas Technical Consultants
Traffic: Kittelson
Preservation: 106 Pro / TAG
AWARDS
APA Outstanding Plan Award, APA Idaho Chapter
ASLA Honor Award for Planning & Analysis, ASLA Illinois Chapter
Expo Idaho Design Competition
The design framework establishes key anchor points that structure circulation and programmatic intensity across the site. Layered elements—including ecological restoration, topographic interventions, and hydraulic connections—reconnect the site to the Boise River, fostering a cohesive, resilient, and dynamic park experience.
The design of the Lowlands centered on reconnecting the site to the Boise River floodplain, reversing decades of ecological disruption caused by development. Working closely with Rio ASE, our team’s hydraulic engineers, we re-carved the flat terrain, lowering the interior to the river's elevation and reintroducing dynamic watercourses. These interventions restored natural hydrology, created diverse habitats, and improved flood resilience, transforming the area into a self-sustaining ecosystem.