Idaho’s Veterans Memorial Park in Boise Unveils $660K Upgrade with 18-Hole Disc Golf Course, Nature Playground
BOISE, Idaho — Veterans Memorial Park in north Boise marked a new chapter Tuesday, April 21, as city leaders gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the completion of a $660,000 upgrade to the beloved 78-acre park. The project — years in the making — brings an 18-hole disc golf course, a nature-inspired playground, and improved safety features to one of the Treasure Valley’s most popular green spaces.
Years of Community Demand Finally Answered
The renovation project at Veterans Memorial Park broke ground in September 2025 and was guided by a master plan first approved three years ago. Parks and Recreation Director Sara Arkle said the improvements were the product of sustained community input and collaboration.
“These kinds of things don’t happen by accident,” Arkle said at the ribbon-cutting. “There’s many people, some of which who are here today, who came together to make these beautiful park improvements happen.”
Mayor Lauren McLean, who attended the ceremony, praised the city’s parks department for its responsiveness to neighborhood needs. “Our team at parks and rec does so much with the community to listen and then create something that works well for the neighborhoods, and in this instance, really for the city as a regional gathering space,” McLean said.
The park encompasses Veterans Pond, a portion of the Boise River, and access to the Boise Greenbelt, making it a key recreational hub for Ada County residents and visitors alike.
Disc Golf Course at Veterans Memorial Park — 29 Years in the Making
For members of the Gem State Disc Golf Club, Tuesday’s ribbon-cutting was particularly emotional. The club, which was founded 31 years ago, has been pushing for an 18-hole course at Veterans Memorial Park for nearly as long as it has existed.
“It’s been a long time coming,” said JR Harrell, president of the club’s board. “There’s a handful — a good dozen old gentlemen — that helped start this community and this club that are so excited about this.”
For 29 years, founding members of the club advocated for a course at the park, but city officials were not receptive until recently. The announcement of the new course generated immediate buzz among players across the Boise area.
“People have been asking about this for months and months and months,” said Joie Kreiter, one of the club’s treasurers. “So as soon as the pads got laid, people were like, ‘Can we go out there?'” Harrell added that players were literally lining up as workers installed the baskets.
The Gem State Disc Golf Club played an active role in the design process, conducting local surveys and hosting pop-up tournaments to test potential course layouts. “People go through and test the layout multiple times to see what’s the safest, what’s the easiest and what flows best,” Kreiter said.
Jason Miller, a landscape architect with Boise Parks and Recreation, described the new course as intermediate in difficulty, featuring changes in elevation and slope. The course circles the park, with some holes situated on the Boise River floodplain and one hole positioned at the top of a berm. Boise’s only other 18-hole disc golf course is located at Ann Morrison Park and dates to the 1990s.
Kreiter noted that disc golf is a highly accessible activity. Players need only a single disc to participate, making it affordable for families across Ada County. The sport has seen a steady surge in popularity in recent years, with interest spiking sharply during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nature Playground Designed to Inspire Young Boise Families
Beyond disc golf, the upgrade includes a new nature play area designed to simulate a natural riverbed environment. The space features rocks, logs, dirt, a “stream” of stones running through the center, a water pump, a sandbox, and bench swings. An accessible walkway ensures the area is open to all visitors.
Miller said the minimalist design is intentional, meant to fuel children’s imaginations — particularly for kids who grow up in the city and may have limited exposure to Idaho’s natural landscapes. “A lot of kids in the city don’t necessarily have the ability to enjoy those environments,” Miller said.
Some of the logs and tree stumps used in the nature area were sourced directly from trees felled within the park itself, reducing material costs and keeping the aesthetic authentic. The city also used a portion of the $660,000 to fund safety improvements throughout the park.
What Comes Next for Veterans Memorial Park
With the ribbon-cutting complete, Veterans Memorial Park is fully open to the public. Ada County residents and Treasure Valley families are encouraged to visit the new disc golf course and nature playground. The Gem State Disc Golf Club is expected to host organized events and tournaments at the new course in the coming months.
Residents interested in future parks planning or upcoming community events in Boise can contact Boise Parks and Recreation through the city’s official website or follow city announcements for scheduled programming at Veterans Memorial Park.