LOCATION
The MK Nature Center is located adjacent to the Idaho Fish and Game State Office on South Walnut Street in Boise. It may be reached from I-84 by taking the Broadway exit and traveling north to Myrtle Street. Myrtle is the first intersection on the north side of the BSU campus. Turn east on Myrtle to reach the Fish and Game Office and the MK Nature Center.
ABOUT THE NATURE CENTER
The MK Nature Center is a sample of wild Idaho. The mountain stream with its logjams and waterfall, the wetlands pond circled with willows and cattails, and the high desert plain bordered by lava rock and sagebrush represent major ecosystems in the state. Trout, whitefish, bass, ducks, geese, kingfishers and songbirds are just some of the wildlife that live here.
The Center is open from dawn to dusk, every day of the year. Although there is no admission fee, donations are gratefully accepted, and support many worthy Nature Center projects that might go unfunded otherwise. Donation boxes are located inside the Visitor Center and outside near the snag display.
A BRIEF HISTORY
The Nature Center opened in 1990 as a Boise City Celebrations Centennial gift to the State of Idaho. It was developed by the Idaho Department of Fish & Game, with help from volunteers and donations from private individuals and from corporations, such as Morrison-Knudsen.
As with much of the land along the river in Boise, this land has had many uses. Boiseans enjoyed baseball here for many years, cheering on the Boise Braves. Later, the Idaho Department of Fish & Game moved in, the area was a vacant, weed-filled lot until work on the Urban Wildlife Interpretation Area began. Many years ago this area was a dump, and excavation of the big pond (an Army National Guard unit weekend drill project) yielded such cultural treasures as license plates, old tires and lots of bottles. The dust had barely settled and the sprinkler system mud dried when an underwater viewing area was proposed by Boise City Celebrations. All these ideas evolved into the Nature Center as you see it today.