On the edge of Garden City/Boise, right along the edge of the West Bench, lies a 44-acre chunk of land that has long been pain in the proverbial butt of the folks living around it.

Back in the day, F. Clyde Peck owned and farmed the land before leasing it to an asphalt paving business. From the 1960s to the 1980s, the company, much to the enjoyment of everyone, used the property as a gravel pit. The longer the gravel pit was mined, the more groundwater became exposed until the water started to become an issue. Eventually the company dug channels that emptied the accumulated water into nearby Warm Springs Creek. From there, the water made its way into the Boise River and the Boise Watershed. We all know that construction during previous decades plus anything involving water always equals good for the environment. Eventually, the gravel pit closed up and, like Oregon, beavers inevitably invaded. The result was that the beavers frantically did what they do and enough water was piled up behind the dams to create a 22-acre wetland. It's like magic; really slow beaver magic.

Over the years, the wetlands and surrounding 22 acres of cottonwoods and weeds have become a nesting area for many varieties of birds, from osprey and heron to robins and seagulls. The area also attracts foxes, bullfrogs, and many other critters. There are even rumors of the occasional bobcat. Dragons and killer bees haven't been spotted. Yet.

Fast forward from the 80s to 1990. Local man Larry Hyatt bought the plot from the Peck Family Trust with the intention to donate the 22-wetland acres to the city while retaining the 22 upland acres to develop residential housing. Back then, much like today, a lot of other folks decided that they had a better idea for what to do with the land, and it didn't really involve what the owner wanted. The guy's lucky no one uttered those two little words every landowner loves to hear: eminent domain.

Gathering up as much money from impact fees, private donations, and grants as they could, Boise Parks and Recreation bought the nine upland acres to the east of the wetland for $149,550, a good chunk of change even now. In 1998, Boise Parks and Rec paid an additional $273,326 for the remaining 13 upland acres west of the wetland and suddenly Hyatt Hidden Lakes Reserve was born. The Idaho Department of Fish and Game received $50,000 from the North American Wetlands Conservation Act Small Grant to help buy up the land. Mr. Hyatt, richer by $422,876, decided to get all civic and donated the wetlands to the city. He must not have needed the extra $27,820 the wetland is valued at.

Parks and Rec has a master plan for the wetland and surrounding area. It was drawn up in 1999, in association with CTA LandWorks Group, after a series of three public meetings. The plan proposes all kinds of stuff, some of which we're still waiting on after a little more than a decade. Darn budget shortages.

For most folks speeding past on Maple Grove, they might not even realize what they're driving by. Hyatt Hidden Lakes Reserve is a beautiful spot for a short hike or bird watching if ornithology grabs you by the tail feathers. The place is beautiful, there are a lot of animals, and it has a great view of the Foothills. A path leads around the wetland and is a favorite of joggers and other folk that live nearby.

Even if you don't live close to Hyatt Hidden Lakes Reserve, the place is worth checking out, especially to enjoy one of our spectacular Boise sunsets. Do yourself a favor by taking a walk around the place and looking at a bird; you'll feel all Zen and stuff.