Step 1:

1. Write a brief description of the problem situation.

 

 

Boise is a unique community. Its main geographical feature is the Boise River, which originates high in the Sawtooth Mountains. Just 15 miles from Boise, Lucky Peak Reservoir retains the river for recreational activities and irrigation and then the river meanders through the downtown area of Boise and Garden City. For a stretch of about 30 miles there is a meandering pathway called The Greenbelt, extending from Lucky Peak Reservoir through the Boise’s Park System and beyond.

The natural environment of the Greenbelt provides many individuals, families and groups an opportunity to enjoy the beauty and serenity of the Boise River. The Greenbelt is situated along the Boise River and passes through the several large, notable parks of Boise

The serenity, safety and enjoyment the river and its accompanying Greenbelt system have been disrupted by the tragedy of three women who were murdered during the last three years while using the presumed "safe" Greenbelt in downtown Boise.
 

2. List objectives not being met.
1. Safety of individuals using the Greenbelt.
2. The perception of Boise as a Safe city: Boise’s reputation as a safe city in which to live, work and play, has been disrupted by three murders in the last 3 years along its scenic Greenbelt recreational path.
3. Awareness by individuals to the fact that even in a reasonably safe city like Boise, Idaho, people must be aware of their surroundings and circumstances.
3. List reasons why objectives are not being met.

 

 

Safety, Perception and Awareness:

1. Funding for lighting, phones, training, signs, clearing vegetation, rerouting of the pathway, and additional patrolling.
2. Safety of individuals. Including limited access and lack of protection.
3. Lack of visibility:

Visibility is limited in many sections of the Greenbelt because of its following of the natural terrain and its close proximity to the Boise River.
4. Lack of public phones:

Emergency phones are extremely limited along the Greenbelt. Boise State University has several of these phones however the system is not extended to the opposite side of the river to the extended reaches of the Greenbelt.
5. Costs:

The expense of making improvements and implementing various safety programs is not budgeted in the City’s budget. These costs are estimated to be nearly $2 million if all of the recommendations were to be implemented.
6. Awareness:

Individuals must be continually reminded of maintaining an awareness of their surroundings and their activities.
7. Three murders:

Three murders within the last three years have had a negative impact on Boise’s "safe" reputation to both its citizens and actual and potential visitors.

1. Volunteer Patrol, "Greenbelt Watch"
2. "Adopt the Greenbelt" neighborhood participation program
3. Community Service to provide labor to clear vegetation.
4. Move Greenbelt away from river to improve visibility.
5. Make selected improvements to lengthen visibility to a minimum of 50 yards to any point.
6. Service Learning Project to provide labor.
7. More lighting.
8. Increase police patrols.
9. Do nothing; keep status quo.

1. Make Greenbelt safe for anyone to access at anytime.
2. Clean up the greenbelt, including trash and overgrown vegetation.
3. Increase community awareness of safety issues.
4. Strengthen relationship between the youth and community.
5. Improve and/or maintain perception of Boise as a "safe" city.
6. Develop a program of the community working together to provide a safe environment.
7. Improve existing lighting and install additional strategic lighting.
8. Identify most effective deterrent to crime(s) and then solicit funding either through private sources or as a tax increase to the City’s annual budget.

Step 6: Choice

The choice of options for improving the safety on the Greenbelt is a combination of the alternatives available. The primary option is to extend the sightline of any point along the Greenbelt to 50 yards. This will be done by clearing vegetation in selected areas, moving the path in some sections, and adding lighting in those areas that are not able to be improved such as underpasses or restricted by buildings.

Improving the length of sightline will provide users a greater response time to potential danger and to be in sight to aid other users in case of problems. With the additional length of sight and the increased public space, perpetrators of crimes will have less privacy within which to commit crimes without being noticed.

Implementing a combination of alternatives will not only improve the safety of the Greenbelt but will be less expensive for the city and taxpayers.

Discussion of Alternatives:

1. Increase police patrols: (rejected)

The annual expense of adding police for the purpose of increased patrols appears cost prohibitive on a continuing basis. The length of the Greenbelt and the time of day/night that patrols would be needed would require several officers be added to the city police department.
2. Volunteer patrol programs: (maintain existing)

Trained volunteers using donated cell phones patrol sections of the Greenbelt during the early evening hours of the high use seasons. There must be police backup during those times since the volunteers are only "reporters" of potential problems. There is always a concern for the safety of the volunteers since they are not armed or trained in self-defense.
3. Increase lighting: (modified alternative)

The cost of fully lighting the Greenbelt is expensive. The alternative is modified to light only select areas where lengthened visibility cannot be attained due to underpasses or existing building restrictions.
4. Add phones: (rejected)

Emergency phones would be expensive to install and would be of little use to a victim.
5. "Adopt the Greenbelt" and "Greenbelt Watch" programs: (rejected)

Both of these programs would require volunteers and the use of volunteers as a patrolling, official enforcement causes additional safety issues.
6. Public Service Messages: (reject)

The Greenbelt is available to local residents and visitors to the city. Visitors would not hear Public Service Messages.
7. Move the Greenbelt: (reject)

Moving the Greenbelt would not only be extremely expensive but would cause it to lose the esthetic value it now has.
8. Straighten the Greenbelt: (partially accepted)

Portions of the Greenbelt would be straightened to improve the sightline.
9. Clear vegetation: (partially accepted)

Vegetation will be cleared to improve the sightline and to remove the underbrush that provides hiding places for those intent on committing crime on individuals.

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