Midvale Nature Park’s third meeting set for Sept. 9

A community meeting about the proposed Midvale Nature Park is set for 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 9 at Midvale City Hall

 Anyone with interest in the project is welcome to attend.

 It is the third in a series of organizational meetings aimed at mapping out how to proceed with a project that, when completed, could put Midvale on the map as a destination point.

 An initial meeting was held in July and a second Aug. 12, which drew about 15 community members. 

 Also in attendance was Weiser resident Mike Thomas who was the driving force behind the creation of the Weiser Community Pond.

 “We had several people from the community show up and give their input,” said Elsa Freeman who is spearheading the effort. “Kayden Griffin from Southwest District Health has taken interest in our project and wants to see how they can help us move things forward, so I’m kind of excited about that. She plans to be at our next meeting on Sept. 9.

 “And then, a landscaper came and said he has an architect who is going to draw up some kind of preliminary plan. I think the community needs to have a visual of what we are thinking. So, hopefully, at this next meeting, he will have something for us to look at.”

 Freeman said she plans on contacting Idaho Fish and Game for guidance on creating a fishing pond within the park.

 Mike Thomas offered his support for the project during the Aug. 12 meeting, fielding questions from attendees and providing details on how he was able to bring Weiser’s fishing pond to fruition. He said there are many things to consider and agencies to deal with when it comes to planning for a fish pond.

 “I told her (Elsa) that I would give her guidance on hoops I never thought we would have to jump through,” he told the Signal American last week. “You start dealing with water and sources of water, and it brings into play a whole bunch of people, but I told her I would be around to help with anything or give any advice that I could possibly give her.”

 Thomas said Midvale’s proposed project is already in an advantageous position in comparison to his own project when it was launched about 15 years ago.

 “Mike said we have several things in our favor,” Elsa said. “For one, we already have the property; two, we are already a nonprofit, and that’s a huge thing in terms of getting grants; and three, we already have some funds available to get started. So, yeah, I’m excited.”

 Thomas added that it is important to involve the community, which can lead to unexpected assistance.

 Most importantly, he said, was to establish a solid vision and go from there.

 “I think if she gets an image and gets after it, and because she has the land, she is a nonprofit and some money to start with, I think she has a good chance,” he said.

 Freeman and her late husband Lane Williams, who once owned MTE (Midvale Telephone Exchange), set up the 501c3 nonprofit Midvale Market Place, Inc. prior to his passing about three years ago. The idea behind the nonprofit, which has a board of directors, was to give back to the community, donating money through various grants or extending loans to people starting small businesses. Freeman, who is director of the grant, said she has approximately $70,000 in an account earmarked for the Midvale Nature Park. The site is located off River Street, north of E. Bridge Street.

 The couple bought the seven-acre riverfront parcel in 2016 for the express purpose of converting it into a nature park, but Lane unfortunately passed away before they could do anything with it. The project has since been on the back burner, but Elsa is now motivated to make the vision she and Lane shared a reality.

 “I finally decided I needed to take some action; let’s do something, let people know about it, then go from there,” she told the Signal American in June.

 Elsa’s vision for the park includes a stream-spanning bridge, perimeter walking path, a picnic and possible camping area, small amphitheater, access to the river and the fishing pond. It may feature streams going into and out of the pond, which would keep the water circulating. The park could also easily hook up with the 84-mile-long Weiser River Trail that starts in Weiser and ends near New Meadows.