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In an interview on Wake Up Idaho, Boise Mayor Lauren McLean announces that Boise will move forward with the same flag already flying.

BOISE, Idaho — Update: On April 8, after days of community comments, Boise Mayor Lauren McLean announced that they will not move forward with a new flag design. After hearing what the community said, McLean believes Boiseans are passionate about their city, and due to that, she will stick with the existing flag design.

While the rest of the country bites their fingernails in anticipation of the NCAA March Madness Final Four, Boise residents have a different kind of final four to be excited about.

The City of Boise announced the final four flag designs for the upcoming flag redesign. A few months ago, the city accepted input from creative residents who designed future flags for the City of Trees.

Now, residents are asked to help decide which of the final designs will be selected.

“This process has been a truly inspiring celebration of community creativity and civic pride,” Boise Mayor Lauren McLean said. “Each flag design tells a story about who we are as a city. Now, we’re asking the community to choose the flag that best reflects our shared values and identity, a true Boise flag.”

Voting is open now through Friday, April 18, 2025.

The current flag has been flying for more than 35 years. As the city has changed, evolved and grown, so too has the need for a new flag that accurately represents its identity, values and culture.

The citywide search for input was big, with close to 3,000 residents submitting feedback. Nearly 140 local artists submitted original designs, with personal statements attached.

The City of Boise states that a Flag Design Committee has been formed, comprising of residents, civic leaders, elected officials and city staff. This committee has reviewed every submission with thought and care, according to a city news release. The final four designs were released Thursday, April 3.

For Boise residents interested in voting on the flag design, visit this link here.

Credit: The City of Boise

Flooding along the Greenbelt

High flows along the Boise River have resulted in standing water along multiple sections of the Boise River Greenbelt. Thank you for minding signage on site and staying out of all closed areas, as the river is cold and moving fast.

Greenbelt Closures due to flooding:

Greenbelt Construction Impacts

Two projects are directly impacting Greenbelt users who utilize the Greenbelt around 8th Street.

Learn More

Detours will be signed via BSU Friendship Bridge, Ann Morrison Ped Bridge, 9th Street (pedestrians), River Street (bicyclists). See map below to plan your route.

All dates are approximate and subject to change.

Temporary Greenbelt Closure near Julia Davis Park for Geothermal Repairs

A short section of the Boise River Greenbelt under Capitol Boulevard is closed while the city’s Public Works team repairs a geothermal pipe. The closure is expected to end the week of April 21. Greenbelt users are asked to follow all posted signs and use the detours at the Boise State Friendship Bridge and Ann Morrison Park Pedestrian Bridge.

Please note, detours are also in place at the 8th Street intersection adjacent to the Idaho Anne Frank Human Rights Memorial as mobility improvements are underway.

8th Street Mobility Improvements

Construction near the Idaho Anne Frank Human Rights Memorial and the Boise River Greenbelt has started. Construction fencing is installed around the project area. The work will take four to six months to complete.

Learn More

Warm Springs Grill + Golf Greenbelt Impacts

The Warm Springs Grill + Golf facility is under construction at Warm Springs Golf Course. The Boise River Greenbelt path along the north side of the Boise River that passes through the golf course is expected to remain open during construction. However, users should be aware of golf carts crossing the Greenbelt as well as heavy equipment working in the area.

Please slow down when traveling along the construction zone and pay attention to all posted signs, including stop signs at marked crossings, for your own safety. Temporary detours and re-routes near the construction site are expected as this project is built-out.

We will ensure the necessary alerts are provided and signage is posted to communicate temporary re-routes as the project progresses. This may also require cyclists to dismount and walk their bicycle through the area.

Thank you for your attention and understanding as we keep the safety of pedestrians, cyclists and golfers top of mind throughout the project.

Construction Area Map

Questions?

EmailCall: 208-608-7600, option 1TTY: 800-377-3529

Project completion estimates are subject to change due to volatility in the construction industry. Current challenges include material availability, rising costs, supply chain disruptions, staffing shortages and more. Boise Parks and Recreation will update project timelines as needed if delays occur.

As the Boise area’s population has exploded, so has its restaurant scene. Chefs are earning accolades. Ethnic restaurants have multiplied.

Still, we not always be so smart about food, Idaho.

Regional chain Gyro Shack just closed its second Treasure Valley restaurant in less than six months, with plans to reopen it as a Mexican drive-thru.

The reason? At least in part?

Gyros can be, like, confusing.

“Even in the Boise market, with it growing as much as it is, 40% to 50% of our customers don’t know what a gyro is,” confessed Seth Brink, president of Arete Food Group. “So we still get those questions all the time ... That’s the gyro challenge.”

(For &#%*’s sake, Boy-see! It’s pronounced “yee-roh.”)

Speaking last fall, Brink explained that Arete, Gyro Shack’s owner, had shuttered the store at 1050 E. Fairview Ave. in Meridian to debut a newly created brand, Rapido Burrito. The primary motive? Too many Gyro Shacks in close proximity, he said.

But Boiseans’ tilted-head reaction to the Greek concept of rotisserie-cooked meat wrapped in pita bread certainly didn’t help, either.

Last Friday, Arete surrendered yet another Gyro Shack — at 9056 W. Emerald St., at the intersection of Maple Grove Road. This Friday, it will open as the area’s second Rapido Burrito, serving a similarly limited menu.

“Gyro Shack is just tough in this market,” Brink reiterated this week. “... We spend a lot of time educating people on what our food is. There’s just not a huge foundation for Mediterranean in the market, right? You see brands like Taziki’s come in and go out.

“What we found when we converted the store was just better sales out of that Fairview location as a taco and burrito shop than a gyro shop.

“So the Maple Grove and Emerald store was struggling, so we’re going to flip that one, too, and see if it kind of works just as well and makes sense for us to renew that lease.”

Founded in the City of Trees in 2009, Gyro Shack is a blend of company-owned and franchise drive-thrus — and a Gem State success story. Fans tend to love the chain. “Tried them for the first time today, and it won’t be the last,” a Google reviewer wrote recently of the Boise location at 5602 W. State St.

Even with the latest closure, four Treasure Valley Gyro Shacks remain: two longtime Boise locations, “which are rocking,” Brink said, and two more in Meridian. There are no plans to transition any of those to Rapido Burrito shops, he said.

Gyro Shack also has two locations in Tucson, Arizona, and two in Albuquerque, New Mexico — all products of recent expansion out of state.

Still, it’s more likely that additional Rapido Burritos will pop up in the Boise area before Gyro Shacks do. The Gyro Shack franchisee who masterminded Rapido Burrito probably will open another location in the next year, Brink said.

New Boise motto: Burritos! Totally heard of ’em!

“There’s no education for it, right?” Brink said. “Unfortunately in this market with gyros, there’s an education curve.”

This story was originally published March 6, 2025 at 3:22 PM.

Idaho Statesman

208-377-6407

Michael Deeds is an entertainment reporter and opinion columnist at the Idaho Statesman, where he chronicles the Boise good life: restaurants, concerts, culture, cool stuff. He arrived as a summer intern in 1991 after graduating from the University of Nebraska with a news-editorial journalism degree. Deeds’ prior roles have included sportswriter, music critic and features editor. His other writing has ranged from freelancing album reviews for The Washington Post to bragging about Boise in that inflight magazine you left on the plane. On Sundays, Deeds co-hosts music show “The Other Studio” from 8 to 9 p.m. on Boise radio station 94.9 The River. Support my work with a digital subscription

Shared Mobility in Boise

In 2018, the City of Boise adopted ordinances to allow the use of electric micromobility devices including e-bikes and e-scooters in city limits. In July of 2023, the city selected Lime to be the only shared micromobility provider in the city. Shared micromobility devices offer a safe, attractive and high-quality transportation option that can be accessed throughout Boise. Rent the nearest available e-scooter or e-bike, ride it to where you want to go, and park it responsibly for the next person to ride!

How to Use E-Scooters and E-Bikes Enforcement Request

How to Use E-Scooters and E-Bikes Resources

How to Use E-Scooters and E-Bikes Riding and Parking Safely

How to Use E-Scooters and E-Bikes Regulations

How to Use E-Scooters and E-Bikes Data

Use this form to report Lime e-scooter or e-bike violations. Service requests will be routed to the appropriate Compliance Officer for investigation.

FILE COMPLAINT

For help requests about the devices, questions around use of the mobile applications, transactional issues and operational concerns, please contact Lime by calling 1-888-546-3345 or visit the Lime Help Center website.

Micromobility Dashboard

Interested in viewing the latest data for micromobility trips in Boise? Check out our public dashboard available through Ride Report.

View Dashboard

Resources for using Lime e-scooters and e-bikes:

Ride Safe

Individuals riding an e-scooter or e-bike should follow proper etiquette and all rules, laws and regulations.

Anyone operating a device recklessly can be charged with a misdemeanor.

Park Responsibly

Since these devices are stationless, they do not need to be parked in a dock or station. Proper parking etiquette is required and users may be fined for not complying with parking rules.

Parking Corrals

To further improve parking compliance, the city and Boise State have installed designated parking corrals for Lime scooters and bikes as a pilot project. In 2024, approximately 40 corrals were installed in key areas around downtown Boise, the Boise State campus, nearby neighborhoods, and major transit corridors. Corrals are marked with a green or white "Park Here" decal – shown below. Additionally, the city installed an artistic corral on Alpine at Latah, which is intended as a micromobility parking corral.

We want to hear from you! We’re seeking community input on the effectiveness of these corrals and suggestions for future locations.

Feedback can be sent to [email protected]

City of Boise E-Device Regulations

E-Scooters can be used within City of Boise limits in the following locations:

As with all modes of transportation, please obey traffic laws and be mindful of obstructions, pedestrians, motorists and bicyclists.

According to city code, e-bikes with a motor that has a power output of no more than 750 watts and a top speed of 20 miles per hour (typically Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes) are allowed:

E-bikes that can reach or exceed speeds of 28 miles per hour (Class 3) are not allowed on the Greenbelt, on sidewalks, in crosswalks or in bike lanes throughout the city under the ordinance.