If you've driven down Whitewater Park Boulevard or enjoyed Quinn's Pond lately, then you probably noticed some construction.

The new 55-acre Esther Simplot Park is being put in place in what might have once been considered an eyesore. Now Boiseans who live in the West End and Waterfront District will be able to enjoy a lush green space thanks to the donation of the Simplot family foundation. Esther Simplot was a former opera singer who moved to Boise from New York City after marrying potato giant, J.R. Simplot. A patron of the arts, Esther cofounded the Boise Opera Company and helped construct both the Esther Simplot Performing Arts Academy and the Academy Annex.

Now her name is bestowed onto this new park that will feature 17 acres of ponds, a beach, playground, docks, and bridges. A small stream will connect Esther's Pond and Quinn's Pond, and Boiseans will be able to enjoy walking and biking among the numerous parks and pathways.

This oasis sandwiched between Whitewater Park Boulevard and the Boise River will be quite a transformation from what was once found there. Construction worker discovered waste and refuse as they dug for the two new ponds, remnants of a time when the Boise River and Greenbelt was a dumping area, rather than the serene destination that it is today. The Esther Simplot Park is just another great reason to live in Boise's West End neighborhood.

This park joins the "Ribbon of Jewels," the other riverside parks that are named after prominent women in Boise. Construction is expected to be completed Spring 2016.