In the foothills surrounding Boise, Idaho, there are a number of open space reserves providing opportunities for outdoor enjoyment through recreation and open space preservation. One of these reserves, Hillside to the Hollow, was recently acquired by the City of Boise and the Land Trust of the Treasure Valley (LLTV). Prior to the property’s acquisition, the community built a number of trail networks which influenced high levels of use and appreciation for the site. To ensure the viability now and into the future for this cherished community asset, both agencies collectively initiated a reserve master plan process to charter a management plan.
In the spring of 2014, Agnew::Beck was hired by LTTV to assist with public workshop design and facilitation. The purpose of the workshop was to incorporate input collected from previous public engagements, and include citizens in a highly interactive format that put them in the driver’s seat. Working with a planning team, Agnew::Beck designed a meeting that encouraged participants to don their “land manger’s hat” and generate strategic alternatives for the area’s management. More than 100 were in attendance at the workshop, where they participated in small groups and created a vision for the area using maps of the property. Both the LTTV and the City of Boise left better prepared to develop the final reserve master plan for Hillside to the Hollow.