700 S CAPITOL BLVD
The city's oldest park, Julia Davis Park
was created thanks to a donation of 43 acres of land in 1907 by
Thomas Davis as a memorial to his beloved wife, Julia.
The home of Zoo
Boise, Boise Art Museum, Idaho State Historical Museum, Discovery Center of
Idaho and Idaho Black History Museum, 89.4-acres Julia
Davis Park is the cultural and historic heart of the city.
The
park also features a formal Rose Garden, two reservable pavilions,
a six-court tennis complex, playground, duck pond, restrooms and a
section of the Boise River Greenbelt.
Smoking is prohibited in all
public parks, facilities and within 20 feet of the Boise River
Greenbelt. However, smoking is permitted in a designated
area within the park.
Julia Davis Park is
open from sunrise to midnight. Park use guidelines provide visitors
with an overview of the rules &
regulations.
A brochure
is available to lead you on a self-guided tree walk through the
park.
Colin Mansfield created Boise Parks for his Eagle Scout project, with
the express intent of providing information so that you can more
completely appreciate our parks, and their amazing
history.
Rose Garden
Pruning of the Roses in Julia Davis Rose
Garden
The roses in the Rose Garden are experiencing an
aggressive disease called Bacterial Cane Blight of Roses - http://pnwhandbooks.org/plantdisease/node/3871/print
. In early spring 2013, the plants were severely pruned to prevent
the loss of the entire rose from the disease. Dr. K.S. Mohan of the
University of Idaho Parma Research Center recommended
applying Kocide 4.5LF Fungicide/Bactericide in the spring
and fall to prevent the bacteria from re-invading the rose.
The roses are expected to send out new canes through the
summer.
In 1935, the
Rose Garden idea originated with H. C. Schuppel, who was a chairman
of a Mens Garden Club called the "Cut Worms." The club was
restricted to 20 members and only had 2 rules: no women and no
publicity. Each member brought their skills to the planning of the
Garden.
Tom McLeod, a club member and Park Superintendent, planned the
layout of the Garden. During the first phase in 1939, 300 roses
were received from Jackson Perkins and 1,500 more came from Villa
Nurseries in Portland. Also in 1939, another 1,000 roses were
planted and the Rose Garden was officially dedicated.
In 1979, the Memorial Rose Fund was created to help fund
memorials for family or friends - dead or alive. The Rose Garden
received its Public Rose Garden accreditation in 1992 and now
receives 10 bushes of All American winners yearly. Now the Julia
Davis Rose Garden which has 2400 roses is a popular spot for
wedding ceremonies and rose lovers of all ages.
To learn more about donation opportunities, contact Darlene
Hoffland of the Rose Society at 208-375-3623.
Quest for the Golden Apple
Children and adult can learn about the history of Julia
Davis Park, facts about the Davis Family and nutritional
information about apples on this fun interactive trek called the
"Quest for the Golden Apple." The quest starts at the Broadway
Bridge and clues lead all over the park with 13 stops. By using the
key and putting together the information learned throughout the
quest, the ultimate location of the golden apple will be
revealed.
The quest map is sponsored by the Ada County Farm Bureau
with content from the Ag Mag and the American Farm Bureau
Foundation for Agriculture. Graphics were provided by Boise artist
Be Gin (Ben Upchurch). Free maps are also available at the
Boise Parks & Recreation Administration Office, 1104 Royal
Blvd., Boise, Idaho 83706.
Julia Davis Park Docent Tours
Designed for enthusiasts of local history and those new to
Boise, the Julia Davis Park Docent Tours offer visitors an
introduction to Boise's flagship park. During the one-hour
walk, which starts at the Idaho State Historical Museum,
knowledgeable volunteer docents identify sites and markers of
historic significance, revealing why Julia Davis Park is the
cultural and historic heart of Boise.
Docent tours are offered free of charge on First Thursdays at 4
p.m., May through September. Tours also will be given during
the Boise 150 Celebration on Sunday, July 7, and are available by
arrangement.
For additional information about the Julia Davis Park Docent
program, volunteering as a docent or scheduling docent tours,
contact Kathleen Barrett, 208-338-9108 or kathleenbarrett@cableone.net.
Julia Davis: Second Century Coalition
The Julia Davis Park: Second Century Coalition is a volunteer
organization led by Diane Myklegard, a descendant of Tom and Julia
Davis. The coalition is raising funds for a "renaissance" of the
park with new features and enhancements, including:
• A Grand Plaza and History Walk
• A Pavilion (one of 5 pavilions planned)
• A River Node (one of 4 river nodes planned)
• The Quest for the Golden Apples, an interactive history tour
Information about the Second Century Coalition campaign, is
available at www.juliadavispark.org. For information,
contact Beth Markley at beth@markley.com or
208-484-4424.
Julia Davis
The City of Boise, Idaho, has many things to boast
about, but few can compare with the quiet charm of Julia Davis
Park.
The story behind Julia Davis Park begins in 1862 when two
orphaned brothers, Tom and Frank Davis, joined with a group of 75
men in Cincinnati, Ohio, and headed west hoping to strike gold. As
an early Boise pioneer, Tom Davis helped lay out the blueprint of
the city and owned and developed thousands of acres of agricultural
property.
Julia McCrumb came to the Boise Valley from Ontario, Canada, to
visit relatives in the Summer of 1869. Two years later she and Tom
Davis were married and the couple eventually had six children.
Julia, known for her kindness and gracious hospitality, would
welcome and assist emigrants traveling on the Oregon Trail as they
stopped their wagons along the river to rest from their journey
across the high desert. She died in the Autumn of 1907 at the age
of 60 after assisting a traveler who may have had typhoid
fever.
Upon deeding the property in memory of his wife, Tom Davis
required that the land would forever be used for public park
purposes.
Cultural Sites
Boise
Art Museum
Discovery Center
of Idaho
Idaho Black History
Museum
Idaho Rose
Society
Idaho State Historical Museum
Paddle Boats, 208-412-2278
Rose Garden
Zoo
Boise
Childhood Cancer Pavilion
Diagnosed with brain cancer at age 13, Trevor
Schaefer is now cancer free and the founder of Trevor's Trek
Foundation. The foundation is dedicated to childhood cancer
awareness and prevention. Trevor's Trek has launched a
campaign to raise funds for the Children's Cancer Pavilion.
The stand-alone pavilion will be located next to
the future Richard and Annette Bloch Cancer Survivor Plaza near the
duck pond in the east end of the park. The Children's Cancer
Pavilion will be cantilevered over the water and will be ADA
accessible with tables suitable for children, their families and
friends. The cost is estimated at $50,000-$65,000. For
more information, visit: http://www.trevorstrek.org/.
"The new pavilion will be a tranquil place to
provide childhood cancer patients and survivors with inspiration,
encouragement and support. Children are the future; cancer
can destroy that." -- Trevor Schaefer
Cancer Survivor Plaza
Cancer survivors and their families will
have a new gathering place in Boise thanks to a $1 million grant
awarded to City of Boise by the R.A. Bloch Cancer Foundation. The
grant will help pay for the construction of a cancer survivors
plaza and parking
improvements in the east end of Julia Davis
Park.
Boise Mayor David Bieter made the announcement Feb. 18,
2009, at a meeting of the "Julia Davis Park: Second Century
Coalition," a group of park supporters.
The plaza will feature:
- Positive
Mental Attitude Walk with 14 inspirational plaques
- Road to
Recovery with seven plaques with recommended strategies for
recovery
- Kinetic wind
sculpture featuring kites by local artist Mark Baltes titled
'Wind Dance'
The Bloch Cancer Foundation (http://www.blochcancer.org/) seeks to build a
plaza in every state.
Abraham Lincoln Statue
A larger-than-life size bronze statue of Abraham
Lincoln was unveiled June 19, 2010 at a ceremony attended by Mayor
David H. Bieter, artist Irene Deely, organizer David Leroy, donors
and civic leaders. Located in a grassy area east of the Idaho Black
History Museum, the statue is an enlarged replica of the most
famous image of Lincoln seated on a bench created by Idaho born
sculptor Gutzon Berglum. According to Davis family legend, early
Boise pioneer Tom Davis was acquainted with Abraham Lincoln in
Illinois in the 1840s before he migrated west. In 1907, land Tom
donated to the City of Boise became Julia Davis Park.
Nearby Places of Interest
Birding
This location provides opportunities to see birds and other
wildlife.
If you are interested in learning more about birding in Idaho
and the Idaho Birding Trail, see http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/ifwis/ibt/
Greenbelt Parking
This park has parking spaces with Greenbelt access.
Horseshoes
Number of Horseshoes courts: 16
There are 16 horseshoe pits for drop-in use.
Open Play Areas
Open play areas are cut grass spaces
that provide opportunities for healthy recreational
activities for people of all ages.
Playground
Swingsets: yes
Age group: 2-5
The playground surface is wood chips.
Public Art
Julia Davis Memorial, 2002, By Jerry Snodgrass Southeast end of
the Rose Garden
The generosity of Julia Davis to passing pioneers is
memorialized and honored in this bronze statue of her offering an
apple to a pioneer girl.
Boise Art Museum Sculpture Garden Various artists Behind the
Boise Art Museum
See different large-scale works by Northwest and national artists
in the outdoor sculpture garden. Works change annually.
Point of Origin, 1978, By John Mason Grounds of the Boise
Art Museum
This geometric sculpture was the first public art commissioned
for Boise. Look through each frame as you move about the piece and
see various perspectives.
Sacajawea and Pomp, 2003, Agnes Vincen Talbot Idaho Historical
Museum This bronze statue of Sacajawea and her baby was created in
honor of the Lewis & Clark bicentennial.
Capitol Bridge Tiles, Circa 1930's Artist Unknown On the 4 pillars
of Capitol Bridge Oregon Trail pioneers crossed through Boise and
are commemorated in this WPA project bridge built circa 1930.
Seated Lincoln, 1867 By Gutzon Borglum, Recast and detailed by
Irene Deely, 2010 North side near Black History Museum The statue
is an enlarged replica of the most famous image of Lincoln seated
on a bench created by Idaho born sculptor Gutzon Berglum.
Reservations
Julia Davis Park has two pavilions, Rose Garden and Bandshell
that may be reserved for events.
Restrooms
Park restrooms are available at this park. Restrooms are
now open. Park drinking fountains are now operational.
For a list of restrooms and portable restrooms that are
available year around in parks and the reserves, click here.
Tennis
Number of Tennis courts: 6
Tennis courts may be reserved by contacting:
Boise Parks and Recreation
208-608-7680
One court must be open for public use at all times.
View our Rules
& Regulations for Tennis Court Use
A Master Plan is a
concept drawing illustrating recreation facilities and landscape
features planned for a park site. It does not necessarily
represent what amenities are currently in a park.