Close your eyes and picture a Boise morning. Chances are, you’re imagining the foothills — sage-scented air, a ribbon of single-track rising toward a ridge, the whole city spread out below under an impossibly blue Idaho sky. That scene exists, in large part, because of a vote cast 25 years ago today.

On May 22, 2001, 59% of Boise voters approved the city’s first Foothills Levy, committing $10 million over two years to protect open space in the hills above the city. It was a landmark moment, and this week Boise is celebrating a quarter century of conservation born from that decision.

The numbers behind the legacy

Those numbers represent something real: every trail run, every dog walk at dusk, every wildflower photograph taken in the hills is made possible by decades of sustained community investment.

From ancestral land to beloved open space

Long before city trails and trailhead parking lots, the Boise Foothills were home to bands of Shoshone, Bannock, and Northern Paiute people who migrated with the seasons — spending summers in the hills, winters in the valley below. After their forced removal by the U.S. Cavalry, the land transitioned to ranching and agriculture, and eventually to recreational use by a rapidly growing city.

As more people discovered the foothills, tensions between private landowners and recreationists mounted. The Boise Front Coalition, formed in the late 1980s, brought citizens, land managers, and government agencies together around a shared vision. That coalition helped establish the Ridge to Rivers partnership in 1992, laying the groundwork for what would become Boise’s conservation movement.

Three levies, one enduring commitment

The trajectory is striking: with each successive levy, more Boiseans have said yes. The 2025 result — over 80% approval — suggests the foothills aren’t just a recreational amenity. They’re central to how Boise understands itself.

The places your levy dollars built

Levy funds went to protecting and managing some of the most-visited natural areas in the Treasure Valley. If you’ve spent time outdoors in Boise, you’ve almost certainly visited at least one of them.

How to explore and give back

The foothills reward you whether you have 30 minutes or a full day. A few ways to make the most of them — and help keep them healthy:

Hit the trails mindfully. The Ridge to Rivers trail system offers hundreds of miles for hiking, running, and mountain biking. Stick to designated trails, especially in spring when hillside soils are wet and vulnerable, and keep dogs leashed in wildlife-sensitive areas.

Come out for National Public Lands Day. On Saturday, September 26, the City of Boise is hosting a guided foothills tour and native plant stewardship opportunity. Details will be released this summer — watch the Jim Hall Foothills Learning Center’s calendar.

Attend the conservation panel in October. A panel discussion featuring conservation advocates who led and continue to lead open space protection in Boise will be held at the Jim Hall Foothills Learning Center in early October. It’s a rare chance to hear directly from the people behind 25 years of land stewardship.

Explore the digital exhibit. The City of Boise has launched Boise’s Open Space: Celebrating 25 Years of Boise’s First Foothills Levy, a digital story map featuring historic photographs and the origins of the conservation movement. It’s a beautiful read, and it’ll deepen your appreciation for every trail you walk.

The foothills have always been Boise’s backyard. Twenty-five years of levies, volunteers, and community votes have made sure they stay that way.