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

On behalf of the Parks & Recreation Department Staff Team, welcome to the City of Pocatello’s Spring/Summer 2019 program brochure. We hope that you, your families & friends will explore all of the exciting recreational opportunities that the City has to offer for community members of all ages, as well as the many beautiful Parks, open spaces & scenic Greenway Trails. Your adventure begins here, and exercise really is medicine! We invite the Pocatello community to “Play Often, and Live Better!” by getting outdoors to recreate, enjoy the fresh air, green grass and warm, sunny days of spring & summer.

How does a peaceful stroll on one of the City’s beautiful Greenway Trails & Portneuf Wellness Complex, or perhaps some world class trail hiking & biking at City Creek or the Mink Creek Nordic Center sound? Maybe a round of golf at the City’s Highland & Riverside public courses, a game of Pickleball at the Raymond Parks courts, or some Disc Golf at Upper Ross Park, the Nordic Center or Sister City Parks is more your style? Joining us for a youth or adult sports league or a children’s dance, gymnastics or swim class is another great way to get out & get active – and so is a nice workout, swim & relaxing steam room visit at the Community Recreation Center! Or, how about a family & friends visit to the Ross Parks Aquatics Complex and the City’s “Zoo Idaho”, capped off by a picnic & free Municipal Band concert at the Lower Ross Park Bandshell? What a day! Looking for even more adventure, how’d you like to give some guided rock climbing, a river float excursion, or a 5K Fun Run/Walk a try? Whether your interest is in exploring nature & fitness, sports & aquatics, special events or cultural arts, all are invited & encouraged to take full advantage of the endless quality of life & well-being benefits our Parks & Recreation Department programs and facilities provide.

In other exciting news, the Ross Parks Aquatics Complex will open a brand new permanent concessions building in summer, 2019! The concessions building will be constructed by the City’s Parks Dept. using in-house Staff expertise, to accomplish a tremendous improvement & community benefit at the City’s crown jewel Park, and at a significant cost savings to the City. The new concessions building will also allow for exciting additional menu options – stay tuned! In addition, work continues on the Phase #2 Zoo Idaho Entrance Building & Gift Shop improvements, with the Zoological Society committed to purchasing the Council approved “log cabin” design structure in support of the City. Staff continues to seek & secure funding resources needed to construct the Zoo Entrance Building in the near future. Also, be sure to come by this spring & summer to experience our new wetlands/trumpeter swan, elk, and bison/pronghorn exhibits. There’s a lot of exciting & transformative things going on at Zoo Idaho.

There’s something for everyone at Pocatello Parks & Recreation. Please invite your loved ones and friends to join us in making this spring & summer one to remember, by Playing Often and Living Better!

John Banks, Parks & Recreation Director
City of Pocatello