Idaho: Boise adds to its park jewels.

A new Boise park will be named for Marianne Williams (pictured). A local businessman in Boise named Larry Williams recently decided to give 70 acres to the city's "Ribbon of Jewels" riverside parks. The park, located in the Barber Valley, will be named for his wife, Marianne Williams, and will feature two miles of greenbelt pathways, more than one mile of river frontage and open space with natural settings.

Williams said he developed an appreciation for city parks when he moved to the city from Midvale, Idaho in 1966. "We had two small children and very little money" he said. "One of the things we valued about Boise was its wonderful parks ... you can spend time with your family without any cost, which at the time was something we appreciated very much)'

Marianne Williams Park will expand the greenbelt park system managed by Boise Parks & Recreation from 168 acres to 237--a 41 percent increase. In collaboration with the Williams family, the city will begin to work on and implement a park master plan. As stipulated in the gift, the city has agreed to develop the park within five years.