Boise Parks have much to offer. They are all different and offer different things. Boise is very proud of their parks and puts a lot of work into keeping them clean and well kept for our city. While there are so many to choose from, here is a curated list of favorite parks from Boise moms!
Kristin Armstrong Municipal Park
500 S Walnut St, Boise, ID 83712
This park is pretty large. It has access to a nice shaded part of the greenbelt. It has a playground and places to reserve for parties. Additionally, it has the MK Nature Center. The Nature Center has both indoor and outdoor sections and is super fun to walk through. You can see sturgeon and other fish in the outdoor portion, and they have lots of interactive areas inside. You can even look at a live beehive!
Franklin Park
310 S Hilton St, Boise, ID 83705
This park has a pretty cool play structure. It has a large climbing apparatus for the older kids that leads up to a huge slide. My kids really love this one because of the unique play structure. There’s nice, covered seating close to the playground to keep an eye on the kids. There’s not a ton of shade, but it has a nice mist area when the kids (or anyone) need to cool off.
Elm Grove Park
2200 W Irene St, Boise, ID 83702
I don’t know about you, but shade is essential in the summer heat. This park is very well-shaded. It has a nice playground coupled with mature trees, so it provides shade on the play structure itself.
Camel’s Back Park
1200 Heron St, Boise, ID 83702
The identifying feature of this park is the Camel’s Back Reserve! It’s a very fun spot to hike. It can get kind of steep, but it’s worth it. Everyone in the family can enjoy hiking, especially when you make it to the top. The views are awesome, and they have built certain areas to help you get there. They have a nice playground with patches of shade for those hot sunny days.
Sunset Park
2625 N 32nd St, Boise, ID 83703
Like many parks in Boise, this park has off-leash hours for dogs. You can find more detailed information on the City of Boise website. This playground is shaded by the mature trees that surround the park and is a great place for the family. In addition, this park is one of the locations for the free summer concert series in Boise!
Veterans Memorial Park
930 Veterans Memorial Pkwy, Boise, ID 83703
This park has a nice big playground along with a good amount of trees that provide lots of shade. It has some great walking trails with access to the Greenbelt. It is fun to hop on the trails, walk around, and explore.
Discovery Park
2121 E Lake Hazel Rd, Meridian, ID 83642
This one is technically in Meridian, but it’s super cool! There are so many different things to do on the playground including a sand pit, zip line, and many different types of slides. You can also use their splash pad which is a big hit with all the kids.
Willow Lane Park
4623 Willow Ln, Boise, ID 83703
One of the best things about Boise parks–a lot of them have two playgrounds! One for younger kiddos and one for those older ones who need more challenging obstacles. This park offers both! It’s very well-shaded and even has pickleball courts!
Fairmont Park
7929 W Northview St, Boise, ID 83704
My kids love interesting play structures, and this one definitely delivers. There are some cool ‘hidden’ amenities on this playground. They have little hammocks tucked inside one of the structures, and my kids think it’s really cool. It’s also a pretty well-shaded area and there are great places to sit and keep an eye on your kiddos in the shade. Bonus: Fairmont pool is right next to it, and they have public hours and prices listed.
Cottonwood Park
4350 N Colonial Park Way, Boise, ID 83713
Parks that are tucked away are awesome. They usually aren’t too crowded and have fun things! Cottonwood Park is just that. They have a zip line and a nice play structure. The grass seems to stretch on forever and is very well maintained. In terms of shade, this isn’t the best park, but you can find spots around.
