Ada County residents have several things to look forward to this summer, from a new animal at Zoo Boise to a cutting-edge golf training center coming to Meridian and the return of a beloved annual outdoor celebration in Boise’s Kristin Armstrong Municipal Park.
Zoo Boise Adds a Two-Toed Sloth to Its Lineup
Zoo Boise has a new face in its Small Animal Kingdom rainforest exhibit: Jay, a six-year-old Linné’s two-toed sloth. Jay is now sharing the space with Ozzy, a prehensile-tailed porcupine who joined the zoo in November 2025. Linné’s two-toed sloths are native to tropical rainforests across Central and South America, making Jay a notable addition to the zoo’s collection of wildlife from around the globe.
Families and wildlife enthusiasts throughout the Treasure Valley can visit Jay and Ozzy during regular zoo hours. Zoo Boise continues to be one of Boise’s most popular community destinations, drawing visitors from across Ada County and beyond.
Meridian Gets a New Golf Performance Center This Summer
Golfers in the Boise metro area will soon have access to a comprehensive training facility unlike anything currently operating in the region. Tee Box Meridian, set to open in Meridian this summer, is designed around what co-owner Logan Brown describes as a complete improvement model — bringing together performance technology, professional instruction, club fitting, and golf-specific physical training all under one roof.
The facility will include a full gym dedicated to golf-specific strength and mobility work, a feature Brown says distinguishes it from simulator bars or traditional driving ranges. “We’re not a simulator bar or a driving range,” Brown said in a public statement. “Every element of the facility is designed around a full-circle improvement model combining elite technology, expert instruction, personalized data, and physical development.”
Tee Box Meridian will offer training programs tailored to junior golfers and competitive players, private corporate memberships, and group events. Founding members can expect access beginning at the end of July, with a grand opening scheduled for August. The facility is positioned to fill a gap in the Treasure Valley’s golf scene, where dedicated performance training has previously required travel outside the area.
With Meridian’s continued growth as one of the fastest-expanding cities in Idaho, the arrival of a facility like Tee Box Meridian reflects the broader maturation of amenities and services available to residents of Ada County’s second-largest city.
4th Annual Dandelion Festival Comes to Kristin Armstrong Municipal Park
The 4th Annual Dandelion Festival is set for Saturday, June 20, from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Kristin Armstrong Municipal Park in Boise. The free, family-friendly event is organized by City of Good in partnership with the City of Boise Department of Parks and Recreation, and features local musicians, vendors, and interactive booths throughout the afternoon.
Adults 21 and older can enjoy dandelion-themed beer from Woodland Empire, a Boise-area craft brewery. The festival traces its roots back to a 2020 City of Boise pilot program focused on reducing pesticide use in city parks. That initiative led to meaningful changes in how Boise manages its public green spaces: overall pesticide applications dropped by more than 40 percent, glyphosate-based applications fell by more than 80 percent, and the city ended its use of neonicotinoid insecticides entirely.
The Dandelion Festival grew out of that shift — reframing the humble dandelion as a sign of healthier urban landscapes rather than a weed to be eliminated. The event has become an annual community staple, drawing Boise families, nature enthusiasts, and local vendors to celebrate outdoor spaces and sustainable park management.
If you’re looking for more community events and local gatherings across Ada County this month, the Wassmuth Center for Human Rights is also hosting a free public celebration on June 20 to mark its 30th anniversary — making for a full day of community engagement in Boise.
What Comes Next
Residents interested in Tee Box Meridian’s founding membership program should plan to watch for updates as the late July opening approaches. For the Dandelion Festival, no registration is required — simply show up at Kristin Armstrong Municipal Park on June 20 between 2 and 7 p.m. Zoo Boise is open year-round, and Jay the sloth is on exhibit now in the Small Animal Kingdom rainforest.