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:

As a new school year begins the Fall season is nearly upon us, and the leaves will soon be turning. Fall continues to be a great time to enjoy the outdoors with its cool mornings and sunny afternoons! On behalf of the Parks & Recreation Department, a very warm welcome to the City of Pocatello’s Fall 2018/Winter 2019 program brochure.

Staff is pleased to offer a wide variety of enjoyable and engaging recreational opportunities for community members of all ages. 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.

How about 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? A cross country skiing or snowshoe adventure at our Mink Creek Nordic Center facility? Maybe a visit to the City’s “Zoo Idaho” for a Zoorific Special Event during one of our Wild Winter Weekends is more your style? Or perhaps 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? Whether your interest is in nature & the outdoors, fitness & athletics or special events, we invite all to take full advantage of the many healthy lifestyle benefits that our programs & facilities provide.

In other exciting news I’d like to share, the Zoo Idaho Entrance improvements are continuing to proceed. In addition to the ADA accessible entrance pathway and landscaping, the adjacent entrance area staircase was installed in Summer 2018. The next step will be implementation of the new “Log Cabin” design entrance building, complete with admissions areas, concessions, gift shop and additional permanent restrooms. Staff continues in working to secure sufficient funds for construction of the building—stay tuned for future updates. Also, make sure to come by and experience our brand new wetlands/trumpeter swan, elk and bison/pronghorn exhibits. Just a few of the significant & transformative improvements going on at Zoo Idaho!

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

John Banks, Parks & Recreation Director
City of Pocatello