Lewiston Waterfront

Project

Year

2019

Location

Lewiston, Idaho

Client

Ginn Group

The Challenge

From Industry to Urban Ecology: Transforming Lewiston’s Riverfront into a Mixed-Use Trail District

First Forty Feet was commissioned to develop and implement a new neighborhood center and extension of the downtown core of Lewiston, Idaho, re-imagining the now-demolished industrial site of Twin City Foods into a vibrant, mixed-use destination. Once home to food processing and warehousing, the site’s soils and shoreline required environmental remediation—a process that became the foundation of its transformation. By cleaning and restoring the land, the project not only unlocks new potential for development but also returns a valuable piece of riverfront to the community.

The revitalized plan, known as the Trail District, envisions this remediated landscape as both an urban and ecological springboard—linking downtown Lewiston to the surrounding hills, trails, and waterways. The project introduces new multi-family housing, commercial spaces, and public art opportunities along with a continuous green loop and waterfront amenities. Anchored by the confluence of the Snake and Clearwater Rivers, the Trail District reconnects the city to its natural setting. Wayfinding strategies and pedestrian bridges strengthen access between the downtown core and the levee trail system, inviting residents and visitors to walk, bike, and gather along a restored waterfront that embodies the renewal of both land and community.

Lewiston, Idaho traces its origins to the confluence of the Snake and Clearwater Rivers — a strategic meeting point long stewarded by the Nez Perce (Nimiipuu) people, whose deep ties to the land shaped the region for thousands of years. The city was formally founded in 1861 during the gold rush, becoming a bustling supply hub for miners headed into the Clearwater goldfields. A year later, Lewiston was named the first capital of the Idaho Territory, its river access and emerging transportation networks cementing its early role as a gateway to the interior Northwest.

The arrival of steamboats on the Snake River and later the railroad strengthened the city’s identity as a river town and trade center, linking agriculture, timber, and industry to wider markets. Today, Lewiston’s historic waterfront, layered cultural heritage, and dramatic canyon setting continue to define its character — a place where rivers, history, and landscape converge, and where the pioneering spirit is rooted in connection to land and community.

Branding of the District

The Trail District concept serves as the brand built around easy access to the outdoors from the heart of town. Framed by trailheads, bike routes, and green corridors, the district positions itself as a place where nature begins within a short walk or ride. The brand celebrates movement, exploration, and the everyday adventure of living close to rivers, forests, and open space.

Streets and plazas are designed as gateways that guide residents and visitors toward these natural assets, with wayfinding, signage, and materials that reflect the surrounding landscape. Through this lens, the Trail District becomes more than a neighborhood name—it’s an invitation to live where the town and trail converge, and where daily life connects to the great outdoors.

A Living System

This waterfront design transforms the edge between land and water into a living system that naturally cleans, filters, and celebrates the flow of water. Each landscape zone—from riparian forests and meadows to prairies, ponds, and grassland mounds—plays a distinct role in capturing runoff, breaking down pollutants, and recharging groundwater. Together, they create a resilient ecological sequence that restores water quality, enhances biodiversity, and mitigates flooding. Beyond its environmental function, the design also serves as a visible story of natural processes, turning the waterfront into a place of learning and connection where visitors can experience how ecology, art, and infrastructure coexist in balance.

Get in touch

Want to know more about this project?