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A Brief History of the
Idaho
Foundation for Parks and Lands
Since its beginning in 1972 the Idaho
Foundation for Parks and Lands, private nonprofit and
nongovernmental, has worked to protect outdoor resources.
The foundation has handled more than $12,000,000 in assets
and our administrative budget has never been more than one
percent of our asset base. Our charter maintains flexibility
because Idaho
is so diverse. The opportunity for land conservation is
entirely voluntary and we only go where we are wanted. There
is no maternity ward for terra firma. Two of
Idaho’s
staunchest park supporters – Governor Robert and Lu Smylie
helped in the early development of the land trust in
Idaho.
Both knew the Harriman brothers well, dined with them at the
Railroad Ranch in Island
Park,
on their private railway car and sometimes in New York.
Working with E. Roland and Gladys Harriman, who owned 75
percent of the ranch and W. Averell Harriman with his 25
percent, Governor Smylie wrote the agreements that would
preserve all 15,000 acres as a gift to the people of
Idaho.
The Foundation played a critical part in this, its first
transaction. What a legacy for this state! The Foundation
will always take a multi-faceted approach to support local
land protection for areas left in their natural
state…managed as agriculture land… improved by adding bike
paths…developed for parks and recreation… and the list goes
on.
A public benefit privately-funded organization can provide
for safekeeping of land assets as part of land preservation.
These properties, as they are acquired, may be held and then
either conveyed to a public agency or stay in protective
status and management permanently with the Idaho Foundation
for Parks and Lands. This has been the concept and founding
principle of the foundation (formerly Idaho Park Foundation)
when it was chartered in 1972 during the first
administration of Governor Cecil D. Andrus. The reason it is
called a “foundation” is that it can make “grants” of land
to public agencies.
The Foundation’s goals are promote the acquisition,
preservation, conservation and maintenance of open spaces
and related ecosystems. It is organized to cooperate with
community groups and governmental units within the state.
The Foundation has been fortunate, in building its track
record, to acquire most of its holdings by donation rather
than purchase. A key element in the process is public and
private trust and confidence. Importantly, each property
must be held and cared for according to the wishes and
conditions of donors.
People generally donate for preservation, not for financial
benefit. Often potential donors prefer to deal with a
private organization rather than a public agency. A
perpetual conservation easement means the property will
never be subdivided and developed. Easement contributors
receive a tax break based on the appraised difference
between the property’s value as agriculture acreage and its
subdivision value. Landowners retain all other rights of
ownership.
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