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I thought this was an interesting article about the mature tree and shrub donations for Kathryn Albertson Park. I think this tactic should be employed at Simplot's JUMP project to give it a more established feel, rather than having to wait 20 years while the landscaping matures, as has been a concern voiced on this forum before.

Margaret Lauterbach: The landscape architect behind one of Boise’s most beautiful parks
Margaret Lauterbach - Idaho Statesman
Published: 01/20/12

Read more here: http://www.idahostatesman.com/2012/0...#storylink=cpy

If you moved to Boise after October 1989, you may not know about the near-magical transformation of a horse pasture into our most beautiful park.

This lovely park, complete with mature shrubs, large trees and a wetland nature preserve, didn’t happen overnight, but it seemed like it did. It was started in 1988 and opened in 1989, a peaceful sanctuary for humans and wildlife.

That is Kathryn Albertson park, the 41-acre evergreen-jeweled haven in the chain of parks along the Boise River, a four-season resort of quiet beauty. Donated land, a remarkable man and a caring community created this peaceful nature preserve near the city’s center.

It remained undeveloped until 1988, so Albertson hired his friend Hansgeorg Borbonus, a landscape architect educated in Germany and owner of Cloverdale Nursery, to develop the park. By then Borbonus had lived in Boise for more than 20 years, so he knew the soil, climate and growing conditions here.

He conferred with the Boise parks director who said the city didn’t need another park like Municipal, Julia Davis or Ann Morrison, so he designed the new park to be a refuge for walkers and wildlife. No cars allowed.

His preliminary design included placement of trees and shrubs but not the types of trees or shrubs. Albertson loved the design.

Borbonus publicly requested donations of shrubs and trees, and received thousands of offers from Boiseans. Some trees were too large, and the offer not taken. Borbonus and his crew could judge by the caliper (trunk diameter) of trees the size of the vital root spread. If the species and size were acceptable, folks were asked to take photos and send them in. Borbonus then relied on his education, experience and artistic taste to choose shrubs and trees for placement in the best locations and combinations.

He sent out crews to dig holes in the prospective park (using earth-moving equipment to cope with the concrete fill), and a giant clamshell digger borrowed from a friend in Portland (operated by the Portland fellow who was expert at operating it) to dig out and haul trees.

Donors received receipts so they could deduct donations on their tax returns. After the park was completed, they found they could “visit” their donated tree, perhaps planted when a child was born but not planted in an appropriate location for mature growth.