The public lands represent, in a sense, the breathing space of the nation.
Richard M. Nixon
Less than 40% of Idaho is privately owned.
From the Sawtooth Mountain range to the Owyhee desert, from Yellowstone National Park to lake Coeur d’Alene, and from the Snake River to the Salmon River, the state contains over 32 million acres of public land.
A state of vast and spectacular landscapes, open to all of us public landowners.
But one tiny parcel - 15,000 square feet out of the total 1,607,364,000,000 of Idaho’s total public land - packs a punch worth studying.
The town square of Ketchum, Idaho (population 3,553) is a model we real estateurs would be wise to copy. It’s vibrant, by design.
It works. Here’s why:
bordered by tacos (and pizza, bikes, and a fly shop)
public restrooms
shade structures and trees
pedestrian access
live music
fountain
Sandwiches, wine, and coffee are available within steps.
The Starbucks is locally-operated and doubles as the town’s visitor center.
But it wasn’t always this way. The Starbucks is a former Mountain West Bank branch, and the town square is a former parking lot.
Like any proper town square, there’s ice cream. Better yet, this one donates its profits to local youth charities.
It isn’t too big.
A bus stop serves the town square but in an area as sparse as central Idaho, car access is more important.
Here, a unique parking arrangement keeps the feel of a street but holds plenty of cars.
Rather than vast and overwhelming parking lots, this arrangement strengthens the street edge and keeps the town pedestrian-friendly.
For urbanists that hate cars, I submit that you hate lame cars.
Imagine if all cars were replaced with rigs like this:
Idaho rigs are the best rigs, for a reason.
Navigating public lands requires sturdy vehicles, and rugged panache makes everything more bearable.
Let’s take a page from central Idaho and incorporate breathing space in our projects, making our land a bit more enjoyable for the public.
This is awesome.