Eagle Island State Park, Eagle
Eagle, Ada County
- Grants: 2019 – clean and repair the loafing barn
Location: 165 Eagle Island Parkway, Eagle, ID 83616
Once an operational prison honor farm, Eagle Island State Park is now one of the most popular recreational spaces in Boise’s urban valley. Bordered on the north and south by the Boise River, Eagle Island features a swimming beach, grassy picnic area, a water slide, disc golf course, concessions and more than five miles of trails for horseback riding, hiking, or cycling. The site was not always so hospitable to visitors, however, as it was operated by the Idaho Department of Corrections as The Eagle Island Honor (prison) Farm from 1930 to 1977. Prisoners raised hogs and cattle, as well as growing crops like grain, alfalfa, hay, and vegetables. Many of the buildings from this period persist, including the dormitory (1949), slaughterhouse (1965), calf barn (1930), and dairy parlor (1930). The state park was dedicated in 1983 and is now operated by the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation.
