Meridian Parks and Recreation is one of the city’s leading providers of affordable, year-round leisure and recreational activities and entertainment for residents and visitors of all ages and abilities. Beautiful parks and plazas; pathways, ponds and open spaces; recreation, performance and sports facilities; arts and culture all provide the perfect urban oasis and offer a respite from the fast pace of life for those in our evolving community.
O Mis i
The Meridian Parks and Recreation Department’s mission is to enhance our community’s quality of life by providing innovatively designed parks, connected pathways, and diverse recreational opportunities for all citizens of Meridian.
O Vi i
Meridian Parks and Recreation is a premier department that provides family-focused opportunities for the Meridian community and responds to a growing and changing population.
O Fo u A ea
Quality * Community * Fun
MERIDIAN MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
Meridian Mayor Robert Simison
MERIDIAN PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
President: Mandi Roberts
Vice President: Dom Gelsomino Commissioners:
Jennifer Bobo
Terry Dennington
Jo Greer
Alan Helms
Elle Hood (Youth Member)
John Nesmith
Mandi Roberts
Brienne Sandow
The Meridian Parks and Recreation Commission generally meets the second Wednesday of each month at 4:00 pm at Meridian City Hall.
These meetings are open to the public and are live streamed via the City of Meridian’s website at meridiancity.org/live.
Meridian City Council:
Brad Hoaglun, President (Seat 3)
Joe Borton, Vice-President (Seat 1)
Luke Cavener (Seat 6)
John Overton (Seat 4)
Jessica Perreault (Seat 5)
Liz Strader (Seat 2)
During 2024, John Overton and Brian Whitlock served City Council Liaisons to the Meridian Parks and Recreation Department.
You Know You’ve Hit the Big Time When….
Several Meridian Parks and Recreation parks and programs have been included on a brand new Meridian-themed edition of the popular game Monopoly!
Among the “properties” players can compete for are Kleiner Park, Settlers Park, Storey Bark Park, and Initial Point Gallery. Other locations included on the game board include Meridian City Hall, the Meridian History Center, Main Street, and a number of other familiar local shopping, dining, and entertainment sites.
We Are Parks and Recreation
Director: Steve Siddoway
Administrative Assistants:
Rachel Myers
Jackie Smith
Recreation Superintendent: Garrett White
Recreation Coordinators:
Skyler Cook (Sports)
Maggie Combs (Sports)
Jenna Fletcher (Classes & Camps)
Renee White (Special Events)
Marketing Coordinator:
Shelly Houston
Parks Superintendent: Mike Barton
Parks Maintenance Manager: Roger Norberg
Parks and Pathways
Project Manager: Kim Warren
City Arborist: Kyle Yorita
Year-Round Parks
Maintenance Staff: John Aceves
Jeremy Aldrich
Shawn Britton
Dave Cereghino
James Christensen
Joey Cordova
Kevin Gallivan
Phil Harris
Codi Heaton
Joe Hoover
Frank Keeney
Wade Maisey
John Meuser
Debbie Miller
Will Rodgers
Rex Rutherford
Dakota Timmons
Dan White
Arts & Culture Coordinator: Cassandra Schiffler
Volunteer Coordinator: Jenna Haley
Aquatics Coordinator: Willow Spurlock
Meridian Homecourt
Facility Manager: Jake Garro
Meridian Homecourt Site
Supervisors: Ross Cipriano
Ilhui Lozado-Cortes
Renee McFarlane
Sports League Site Supervisor: Todd Vanderhoff
Lakeview Golf Club Staff
General Manager / Head Golf Professional: Ryan Roberts
Facilities Manager: Jake Garro
Assistant Golf
Professional:
Pete Burton
Golf Course Superintendent: Kevin Fipps
Golf Course Assistant Superintendent: Donald May
Golf Maintenance
Technicians:
Henry Carr
Rodney Spannaus
Golf Shop Assistants:
Mark Cordry
Lexi Loll
Cart/Golf Shop Attendant & Player Assistants:
Joseph Beard
Kevin Beard
Anthanee Higbee
Timothy Lammers
Ron McNutt
Terrie McNutt
Zoe Merritt
Thomas Newman
Richard Rosa
Gerald Steinwand Jr.
Cause for Applause!
PGA Assistant Golf Pro Pete Burton is really livening things up out at Lakeview Golf Course, and we’re not just talking about that hot pink shirt!
He’s recently started a new introductory golf program for kids at Lakeview called SNAG, which stands for Starting New at Golf. It utilizes colorful props, including a giant velcro target which Pete sometimes wears, to keep things fun for the kids while they’re learning basic golf skills.
Pete was recently named Assistant Golf Professional of the Year for the Rocky Mountain Section PGA. He also won its annual Player Development Award. He’s also listed among the 2024 Top 50 Coaches in the Nation by Operation 36 Golf.
Pete was introduced to the game of golf at age 3 and was instantly hooked. He currently offers both adult and junior lesson packages at Lakeview Golf Course.
Iconic Meridian Playground Marks 20th Anniversary with Celebration and Resource Fair
Cheers to 20 Years! Meridian’s first universally accessible playground Adventure Island Playground was the star of the show as the community gathered in Settlers Park on August 24th to celebrate its 20th Anniversary.
The event included a resource fair featuring approximately 25 organizations and services offering support to families with children with special needs.
Special guests at the anniversary celebration included Meridian Mayor Robert Simison, Former Mayor Tammy de Weerd, and members of the Lindig Family who originally identified Meridian’s need for an accessible playground and gathered the volunteers and resources needed to plan and carry out the ambitious build.
Today the playground is maintained by Meridian Parks and Recreation and remains one of the parks system’s most popular play areas.
Adventure Island Playground is located at Settlers Park, near the intersection of Ustick and Meridian Roads in Meridian.
Lakeview Clubhouse Grand Re-Opening Garnered Rave Reviews
There was plenty to celebrate as the golf community, neighbors and others gathered on May 1 to admire the newly renovated Lakeview Golf Course clubhouse and patio.
Attendees dined on charcuterie platters prepared by Rooster’s Tavern on the Green while enjoying beverages and conversation in the clubhouse which debuted new furnishings, fresh paint and carpeting, and a new custom bar top.
Many folks also spilled out onto the patio to enjoy live music in the spring sunshine and take a few swings on the driving range. The patio’s glow-up included a new shade covering, new patio furniture, colorful flower boxes, and a pair of fire tables.
New Pathway Creates Walkability Where It’s Needed Most
On March 7, City officials and staff and students from Mary McPherson Elementary School braved fog and snowflakes to cut the ribbon on a much-needed pathway which now connects nearby neighborhoods to Mary McPherson Elementary School.
This pathway, a partnership between the City of Meridian, the Simplot Company, and West Ada School District, was built so more students can walk and ride their bikes to and from school.
Before the pathway was constructed, there was an unfortunate condition where Mary McPherson students who live within ¼ mile of the school needed to be bussed over a mile to school because there was no safe, direct walking route to school. The 10-foot-wide wide pathway, which is 900-feet in length, came together quickly, going from start to finish in just over six months.
During 2023, 500 volunteers donated more than 5,580 hours to the City of Meridian, and they are on track to meet or beat that number of hours for 2024!
Whether staffing City Hall’s main lobby reception desk, patrolling the parks in an electric vehicle, planting flowers in our parks, or helping things run smooth and safely at community events, our volunteers never fail to provide outstanding service.
Interested in lending an occasional hand? Contact Volunteer Coordinator Jenna Haley at 208-489-0562 or jhaley@meridiancity.org.
New Settlers Splash Pad = Popsicle Party!
On the afternoon of May 30, we celebrated the all new splash pad at Settlers Park with a Pop-Up Popsicle Party.
The new splash pad, which replaced the park’s aging splash pad and has a fun nautical theme, opened just in time for summer fun.
Mayor Simison and Parks Director Siddoway were on hand to hand out popsicles, and kids enjoyed playing in the water, wearing colorful leis, and singing and dancing along to beach-themed music.
New Tully Park Playground Features Meridian’s First Communication Board
On June 28th, City leaders gathered to celebrate the ribbon cutting of the all-new playground and communication board at Tully Park. The new equipment replaces play structures which were approximately 25 years old and ready for retirement. The new highly inclusive playground also features the first communication board to be located in a Meridian City park.
The communion board serves as a tool to help non-verbal or communicationchallenged individuals express their thoughts to others during their visits to the park. The new playground and communication board are located at 2500 N. Linder Road, between Cherry Lane and Locust Grove.
Refurbished Space at Meridian Homecourt Activated for Classes and Special Uses
A 7,2000 square foot area of space at the Meridian Homecourt has been transformed into a flexible space that can be used for a variety of the classes and activities offered through the Meridian Parks and Recreation Department. The space had previously been leased by a local church for its services and other church activities.
A number of improvements and modifications were made to the space prior to Parks and Recreation’s move-in, including replacement of the 15-year-old carpeting, fresh paint, and some slight physical modifications including the installation of multi-purpose flooring.
Upon completion, the space called “Bay 6” consists of four small classrooms, four small offices, a large congregation space with an elevated stage, a lobby area, small kitchen area, restrooms and storage. In addition to serving as the regular location for classes such as Jazzercise, martial arts, art, and Lego building, the space will host the 2024 Children’s Winterland Festival on December 14 for the very first time.
The Meridian Fire Department’s fire prevention staff is also utilizing a small portion of Bay 6 as a satellite office and to hold car seat checks and other public outreach and education activities.
Discovery Park Community Garden Enjoys a Bountiful First Season
Meridian’s Discovery Park now features a community garden, complete with “scarecows” named Daisy and Stella. Operating under the Meridian Co-Op Gardeners banner, and with the guidance and hard work of garden coordinator Chris “Tractor Guy” Verkerk, the .4-acre community garden launched this the spring, allowing for the harvest of fresh produce and flowers throughout the summer and fall.
Future ideas for the garden include the addition of a pollinator garden, garden boxes accessible to those in wheelchairs or who use assistive devices, and features that can be enjoyed by those with autism or other sensory needs.
You can learn more by following the Facebook page Meridian Co-Op Gardeners Discovery Park.
Meridian Earns PrestigiousTreeCityofthe WorldDesignation
Julius Kleiner Would Approve!
Six new Kwanzan Cherry trees (often called Japanese Cherry trees) and three Copper Beech trees were planted this year in Julius M. Kleiner Memorial Park.
The trees were a gift to the park from the Kleiner family and are said to have been among Mr. Kleiner's favorite types of trees.
The City of Meridian recently achieved its first ever Tree Cities of The World designation. Meridian is one of only 38 cities worldwide to earn this recognition.
To qualify for Tree Cities of The World status, the City had to meet five standards established by the National Arbor Day Foundation and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
1. The city has a written statement by city leaders delegating responsibility for the care of city-owned trees within the municipal boundary to a staff member, a city department, or a group of citizens. (Meridian has a city arborist.)
2. The city has in place a law or an official policy that governs the management of city-owned trees. These rules describe how work must be performed often citing best practices or industry standards for tree care and worker safety where and when they apply, and penalties for noncompliance.
3. The city has an updated inventory of city-owned trees so that an effective long-term plan for planting, care, and removal of city-owned trees can be established.
4. The city has a dedicated annual budget for the routine implementation of its tree management plan.
5. The city holds an annual celebration of trees to raise awareness among residents and to acknowledge citizens and staff members who carry out the city tree program.
Tree Cities of the World aims to create more green spaces in urban areas by recognizing the cities that do it well. Planting more trees is the quickest and easiest way to improve a city’s tree canopy and invest in a brighter future.
The City of Meridian is also recognized annually by the Arbor Day Foundation with a Growth Award and a Tree City USA designation which is generally presented during local Arbor Day celebrations at local schools or city parks.
Ribbon Cutting Marks Completion of Meridian’s First Trailhub
On May 13 the City of Meridian held a ribbon cutting to celebrate the completion of the Fivemile Creek Trailhub, the first trailhead serving Meridian’s pathway system.
The landscaped site, located on the east side of N. Ten Mile Road between Ustick and W. McMillan Road, features new signage, a gathering area with columnar basalt benches, drinking fountains, and public art that includes bicycle racks by local artist Ken McCall and mosaic sculptures by Nevada artist Eileen Gay.
The event also celebrated a new pathway segment and pedestrian bridge located approximately one-third mile west of the Traihub.
This project is often referred to as the ‘Golden Spike’ as it makes a key connection between existing pathways to the east and west.
The Fivemile Creek Pathway is now the longest dedicated pedestrian route in Meridian, running a distance of more than eight contiguous miles.”
Immediately following the ribbon cutting, attendees were given the option of taking a guided walk down the pathway to view the new pedestrian bridge.
Planning for Meridian’s Future Community Center
Plans for a future Meridian Community Center and expansion of Settlers Park are now getting under way in earnest. Preliminary concept plans have recently been created by the project’s architects based on the City’s vision for the building, its location, size, projected uses, estimated budget, and other pertinent factors.
The proposed community center would be constructed on an 11-acre piece of land located adjacent to the Settlers Park ball fields. The property was recently purchased by the City of Meridian from the West Ada School District who had once considered it for a future elementary school site.
The community center, whose design and construction would be funded entirely by impact fees collected from building permits rather than by tax dollars, would serve as the City’s hub for community education programs. It is proposed to have a reception area, gymnasium with stage, patio, several multi-purpose and specialized classrooms and meeting spaces, where classes, camps and activities for children, teens, adults, seniors and families can be held year-round.
On December 5th, the City hosted an informational open house to allow the public to view preliminary illustrations of the project, share ideas, and ask questions. Approximately 60 people attended the open house, which also received extensive local media coverage.
Awards & Accolades
Meridian City Arborist Kyle Yorita (blue shirt) and Meridian Parks and Recreation Director Steve Siddoway (tan shirt) accepted a Tree City of the World certificate on behalf of the City of Meridian from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the U.S. Arbor Day Foundation.
Meridian Homecourt Site Supervisor Renee McFarlane was presented with a City of Meridian CARE Award at the annual All-City Staff Meeting by department director Steve Siddoway in honor of her outstanding adherence to the City’s core value of Customer Service, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence.
Meridian Arts and Culture Coordinator Cassandra Schiffler was honored by the Idaho Business Review newspaper with a 2024 Accomplished Under 40 Award.
The prestigious awards program recognizes Idaho business and professional leaders who have achieved remarkable success before the age of 40. Cassandra was one of only 40 recipients chosen from among the hundreds of nominations received by the business newspaper.
Meridian Parks and Recreation staff members Debbie Miller and Wade Maisey, both Senior Maintenance Technicians, were both awarded with special Life Saving Awards from Meridian Fire Department Chief Kris Blume for the roles they played in providing life saving measures to an individual in medical distress at a community event. Nearly all Meridian Parks and Recreation staff members are certified bi-annually in CPR and the use of AEDs. This training is paying off!
Meridian Park and Recreation was proud to bring home three awards from the 2024 Annual Conference of the Idaho Recreation and Parks Association (IRPA).
We won the Outstanding Innovative Program award for our efforts in repurposing our used playground equipment to benefit underserved children in communities in Central America.
We won the Outstanding Park award for our recently completed Discovery Park Phase II. This is the portion of Discovery Park that includes a skate park, pump track, bike bark, pickleball and tennis courts, a basketball court, additional ball fields, a community garden, public art, and several other new amenities.
Meridian Parks and Recreation Director Steve Siddoway was also awarded with the Dr. Leon Green Award acknowledging his many years of dedication to work in the parks and recreation field and to his ongoing efforts on behalf of the Idaho Recreation and Parks Association, both locally and statewide. This award is the organization’s top individual honor.
Also New-n-Noteable
♦ Work has started on an update of the City of Meridian’s Pathways Master Plan. The Plan, which hasn’t undergone a comprehensive update since 2012, is targeted for completion during 2025.
♦ A number of improvements were made to the Meridian Pool this year, including a new motor installation, front railing work, a 3 meter diving board replacement, and new fabric for the shade sails.
♦ For this year’s Unplug and Be Outside initiative, we collaborated with Idaho State Parks and Recreation, adding many new resources and activities to the Kick-Off Celebration.
♦ Meridian Parks and Recreation launched a new monthly e-newsletter which highlights useful news and upcoming events and activities. It is e-mailed to approximately 30,000 e-mail addresses each month.
♦ The City’s GIS Department has created a variety of maps for use by City employees featuring Meridian’s City parks. The maps’ layers can be filtered to show park amenities, pathways, trees, public art locations, historic sites, and more.
♦ The project to install several on-course restrooms at Lakeview Golf Course has begun. Eventually, four restrooms will be placed along the course for player use.
♦ The Meridian Historic Preservation Commission had a busy year, hosting a new series of free Saturday downtown history walks, updating the Meridian Historical Walking Tour brochure, and successfully getting Meridian Speedway listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
♦ During the year lights were added to the tennis and pickleball courts in Discovery Park and the courts at Settlers Park and Reta Huskey Park were re-surfaced.
♦ A flag pole for the US Space Force flag was installed near the Rock of Honor Veterans Memorial in Kleiner Park, in addition to new electrical outlets which will be useful during the annual Memorial Day and Veterans Day ceremonies.
♦ A small parcel of land adjacent to Hillsdale Park was donated to the City by Meridian resident Marti Hill. The area has been greened up and now provides another convenient way for residents of nearby neighborhoods to access Hillsdale Park.
♦ Fuller Park Pond now has a new well which allows us more control when pumping water in and out as needed.
Events That Engaged & Entertained
The Meridian Parks and Recreation Department hosted a variety of special programs and events throughout the year. Among those we hosted or co-hosted in 2023 were:
♦ Arbor Day Tree Planting & Tree Seedling Give-Away
♦ Do the Right Day of Kindness
♦ Unplug and Be Outside Week
♦ Memorial Day and Veterans Days Ceremonies
♦ Take Me Fishing Free Fishing Days
♦ Meridian Main Street Market
♦ Sparklight Movie Night in Meridian
♦ Gene Kleiner Day Celebration
♦ Independence Day Celebration
♦ Concerts on Broadway Live Music Series
♦ Meridian Art Week
♦ Community Art Party
♦ Trunk or Treat
♦ Halloween Disc Golf Tournament
♦ Rake Up Meridian
♦ Holiday Classic Volleyball & Tournament
♦ Santa’s Mailbox
♦ Winter Lights Parade & Christmas Tree Lighting
♦ Winterland Children’s Festival
♦ Interactive Christmas Lights Map
♦ Meridian Ornament Drop
♦ Salvation Army Angel Tree Toy Drive
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Arbor Day Tree Planting at Rocky Mountain High School
Memorial Day Ceremony at the Rock of Honor Free Fishing Day at Settlers Park Pond
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Meridian Main Street Market
Sparklight Movie Night in Meridian
Gene Kleiner Day Meridian Symphony Concert
Independence Day Family Celebration
Top to Bottom: Concerts on Broadway Community Art Party Trunk or Treat
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Halloween Disc Golf Tourney
Rake Up Meridian
Holiday Classic
Volleyball and Cornhole Tournaments
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Meridian Ornament Drop
Meridian Winter Lights Parade Meridian Christmas Tree Lighting
2024 Christmas Theme: “So Bright You Gotta Wear Shades!”
