Capital City Development Corporation and Partners Announce Name of New Public Park at 521 W. Grove Street
January 22, 2025BOISE, Idaho – Today, Capital City Development Corporation (CCDC), Boise Mayor McLean, Boise City Council President Pro Tem Meredith Stead and partners broke ground on a new park in the Old Boise neighborhood and announced its name – Kaixo Corner (pronounced kie-sho and meaning “hello” in Basque) – paying homage to the area’s multicultural history.
Located at 521 W. Grove Street, Kaixo Corner, is the result of a unique partnership between CCDC, Boise Parks and Recreation, Boise City Department of Arts & History, and community members who provided extensive input on the design of the park and the integrated public art.
“Breaking ground on Kaixo Corner marks a significant milestone in CCDC’s mission to develop exceptional gathering spaces for our community,” said John Brunelle, CCDC Executive Director. “We are proud to collaborate with our partners to bring this vision to life. Together, we are transforming 521 W. Grove Street into a welcoming community park that honors the past while serving as a hub for connection and creativity for generations to come.”
“Kaixo Corner is on land that housed Boise’s immigrants,” said Mayor Lauren McLean. “We worked closely with Miren Artiach to choose Kaixo, a warm welcoming word meaning ‘hello’ in Basque. Once completed, Kaixo Corner will be a vibrant addition to our community, continuing the block’s legacy of welcoming everyone for generations to come.”
The 0.21-acre parcel, purchased by CCDC in January 2022, will soon be transformed into a park and public space with seating, lighting, a small stage and integrated public art that honors and celebrates the history of immigration in Boise.
The project master plan was approved by the Boise Parks and Recreation Commission, the Boise City Council, and City of Boise Design Review.
“Looking around, you may not realize that this neighborhood was once a multi-cultural hub for new immigrants to Boise from countries all over the world including China, Germany, Sweden, Japan, Russia, and the Basque country,” said Jennifer Stevens, Boise Arts & History Director. “Through the artists Huameng Yu and Louis Chinn’s planned public art, this park will bring light to this unique tapestry of voices that have been both visible and hidden from modern memory.”
Kaixo Corner is an important cultural addition to CCDC’s portfolio of award-winning public spaces in downtown Boise, including The Grove Plaza, Cherie Buckner-Webb Park, Historic Neon Sign Gallery, and Freak Alley.
For more information on Kaixo Corner, slated to be completed in Summer 2025, visit CCDC’s website.