Parks & Recreation

Play Often, Live Better!



The Parks and Recreation Department strives to serve the Pocatello community with quality recreation programs, well-maintained parks, trails, and beautiful open spaces. Our aim is to help provide opportunities, activities and the facilities to bring pleasure to people’s lives. Our parks serve as a source of great community pride, and we are firm believers in the benefits recreation brings to both the years in one’s life and the life in those years.
Often people don’t realize what a vital role Parks and Recreation plays in the quality of their lives. Our aim is to help the community make the connection between vital and happy lifestyles and parks and recreation.

Message from the Director

Dear Neighbors:

A very warm welcome to the City of Pocatello’s Fall 2019/Winter 2020 program brochure! As a new school year begins the Fall season is nearly upon us, and Fall continues to be a great time to enjoy the outdoors with its cool mornings and sunny afternoons. It is our hope that you, your families & friends will “Play Often and Live Better!”, by exploring the City’s many beautiful parks, open spaces & facilities, as well as participating in some of the comprehensive array of program choices available.

Parks & Recreation staff are pleased to offer a wide variety of enjoyable and engaging recreational opportunities for community members of all ages. How about a children’s dance or swim lesson class, a youth or adult sports league, an indoor rock wall climb, or a good workout at the Community Recreation Center, followed by a relaxing steam room visit? Perhaps a visit to the City’s “Zoo Idaho” for a Zoorific Special Event during one of our Wild Winter Weekends is more your style? Maybe a late season round of golf at the City’s Highland & Riverside public courses, or some “world class” trail hiking & biking at the City Creek Trails System? Or a cross country skiing or snowshoe adventure at our Mink Creek Nordic Center facility? Whether your interest is in nature & the outdoors, fitness & athletics, or special events, all are invited to take full advantage of the many healthy lifestyle benefits that our programs & facilities provide.

In other exciting news I’d like to share, staff has been busy at work developing a draft Master Plan for Ross Park, built on input solicited from the community and with the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board serving as the steering committee. Ross Park is the gem of the City of Pocatello’s park system, and has over 145 acres of available land, approximately 95 acres of which are currently developed. The goal of the process is to craft a 5-25 year Master Plan to guide the future development of Ross Park, which will enrich its recreational & cultural opportunities, while maintaining, nurturing and enhancing its natural beauty and historical, recreational & educational features. Staff plans to bring a final draft version of the plan forward for City Council review and consideration this winter – stay tuned for future updates.

The Parks & Recreation Department invites everyone to join us this Fall & Winter for all that Pocatello has to offer, and “Play Often and Live Better!”

John Banks,
City of Pocatello Parks & Recreation
Director