1. Garden District

The Garden District will see major improvements, including Chicago Street enhancements, 5th Avenue development, I-84 corridor improvements, and a new Garden District Plaza.

2. Rail Quiet Zone

The rail quiet zone will stretch from Centennial Way to Ustick. It will feature pedestrian safety enhancements, new signage, and other critical safety measures.

3. Plaza District

The Plaza District will be transformed with a 700+ space parking structure, the Caldwell Conference Center, three downtown hotels, 60,000 square feet of office space, and 60,000 square feet of additional retail. The district will also include a 9th Avenue dining district, a 7th Avenue Plaza, and The Commons development.

4. Indian Creek Promenade

The Indian Creek Promenade will be a three-mile paved trail system featuring restrooms, picnic areas, trailhead parking areas, and interpretive signage.

5. Event Shuttle Stops

Event shuttle stops will be added throughout the city to improve connectivity. Key locations will include the Historic Depot, Whitewater Park, the College of Idaho, Memorial Park, the fairgrounds, and the Caldwell Sports Complex.

6. Caldwell Sports Complex

The Caldwell Sports Complex will include archery, pickleball, tennis, outdoor basketball courts, baseball and soccer fields, a track, and a family adventure park.

7. 55+ Condominium Development

This 55+ condominium development will feature a trail system connecting to area parks, a pool and fitness center, an activity center, condos, apartments, parking structures, and a neighboring convenience store.

8. 10th Avenue Gateways

The 10th Avenue gateways will create a beautiful, welcoming entrance to the city and the Central Caldwell districts.

9. 21st Avenue Gateways

The 21st Avenue gateways will enhance the approach to the Stockyards District and the fairgrounds.

10. Stockyards District

The Stockyards District will be targeted for a Costco or similar big box development, a Trader Joe’s, and various chain or franchise restaurants.

11. Canyon County Fairgrounds

The Master Plan involves divesting the city from the fairgrounds to allow for re-imagined fairgrounds with new parking and upgraded facilities.

12. Whitewater Park

The Whitewater Park will feature a challenge course, parks, open spaces, a wetland habitat preservation area, a zip-line course, a BMX pump track, a family picnic park, and boat docks.

Envision Caldwell: Our Story

In March 2024, a group of community members, alongside representatives from the Chamber of Commerce and Destination Caldwell, began meeting to explore how we, as citizens, could help contribute to sustaining the momentum Caldwell’s downtown had built over the past decade.

While that progress has been meaningful, there was a growing sense that momentum had begun to slow and that the decision making process had become more reactive than strategic. Our goal was straightforward: to help shape a clear, long-term vision for downtown that provides a practical framework for the decisions facing the city today and into the future by building a template that current and future administrations could rely on as a consistent point of reference when evaluating opportunities that present themselves.

Shaping the future vision was based on several core principles:

• Process nets progress: A consistent and repeatable framework of shared and aligned priorities that help turn opportunities into outcomes that move Caldwell forward in a positive direction.
• A strong downtown is essential to a strong community: A vibrant downtown drives economic activity, reinforces community identity, and supports long-term stability through commercial tax base and sales tax.
• Growth should be intentional and focused inward: Growth should happen on our terms, not by happenstance. Prioritize infill and redevelopment to limit sprawl and preserve Canyon County’s agricultural lands.
• A “live, work, play” environment creates lasting value: A connected downtown supports small businesses, improves access to services, and strengthens daily activity and community life.
• Building on past successes creates future opportunity: The transformation of Indian Creek and the development of Indian Creek Plaza demonstrate what a focused community effort can achieve. Utilizing these resources to create connectivity from the downtown core to the greenbelts along the Boise River and the fairground and rodeo amenities is a natural next step.

With these parameters established, the group recognized the need for experienced professionals to help translate vision into a practical plan. An outreach effort was initiated to identify planning partners capable of guiding that process. After meeting with several firms, it became clear that Caldwell already had a proven resource with a track record of success: Roger Brooks.

His previous work is visible throughout downtown and reflects many of the successes the community has built upon over the past decade. Reengaging Roger aligned with the original intent of his earlier work, which anticipated the need to revisit progress and make course corrections as the community evolved. His familiarity with the community, combined with a clear understanding of its untapped strengths, made him a natural fit to help guide the next phase.

A formal funding request was presented to City Council by the Chamber of Commerce, with additional support provided by Destination Caldwell and private community contributions. Following approval, Roger conducted multiple visits to engage with stakeholders, residents, and city staff to gather input and refine a forward-looking plan, now known as Envision Caldwell 2050.

As we await the formal presentation of Roger’s findings and subsequent consideration by both elected officials and the community, it’s important to recognize what this effort represents. It began with a simple concern: that there was no clear, consistent process guiding decisions that impact Caldwell’s future. Roger’s work does not define what will be. It outlines what could be. The direction forward will ultimately be determined by the community, one that has already demonstrated what is possible when vision is paired with process to achieve a positive outcome for Caldwell.