The Boise Friends of the Park board has launched a campaign to build Idaho’s first river recreation park. To date, they have pledged more than $250,000 toward an estimated $6.7 million goal. The City of Boise has committed $750,000 to the project, and in the spring of 2008, the Harvey Neef family pledged $1 million toward the park, in memory of their son, Ray Neef, MD.

In February 2009, the City Department of Parks and Recreation and the Friends of the Park Board reached an historic agreement with the Thurman Mill Canal District to rebuild the diversion that forms the 36th street wave. The Thurman Mill Canal District is one of several entities with historic water rights along that section of the Boise River.