Sequoia Park

Between November of 1894 and June of 1896, some far-sighted City planners, for the price of $4,000 purchased 46.5 acres that is now known as Sequoia Park. This area became extremely popular because the electric car system ended there and gradually became more popular than the new Emu Park located in Fairhaven.

In an article in the Humboldt Standard dated July 5, 1907, the following article was written concerning Sequoia Park. “The City’s pleasure ground will no longer be known as ‘Forest Park’ but by the more euphonious and appropriate name of Sequoia Park, for an ordinance to that effect, introduced by Mayor Torrey last evening, was adopted unanimously, to take effect immediately.

"Sequoia was the name first suggested for the park when it was donated to the City by Barton Glatt, and this name was strenuously advocated by A.J. Wiley, son of the late Austin Wiley, a young newspaperman since deceased, who was at the time the editor of the Humboldt Times. This name was suggested not only in honor of our great stable product, the redwood Sequoia Sempervirens, but also to commemorate the great triumph of Eureka’s first feat, the Sequoia Carnival of 1895. J.F. Coonan, then Councilman of the Second Ward, who afterward became known as the ‘father of the park’ however, opposed this name in the Council and succeeded in having it officially christened ‘Forest Park.’”

Sequoia Park Playground Improvement Fund at Humboldt Area Foundation

Sequoia Park “Phase 1” Playground Ribbon Cutting

The City of Eureka will be having a ribbon cutting for the newly complete Phase 1 playground at Sequoia Park on Tuesday, July 27, 2021 at 12pm. The funding for this new playground came from a Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant which provided funds for both this project and the Redwood Sky Walk at the Sequoia Park Zoo. This new playground is known as “Phase 1” of the Sequoia Park Improvement Project- Old Growth, New Adventures.

New improvements to be unveiled include new ADA parking and pathways, ADA restrooms, safety fencing, entry signage, and a playground for ages 5-12 including climbing, swinging, spinning, and balance features.

Additional park improvements are unfunded at this time with donations being accepted for Phase 2 and 3 through a Humboldt Area Foundation Fund available online at www.ILoveSequoiaPark.com.

SPECIAL SEQUOIA PARK ANNOUNCEMENT

Parks are undeniably the fabric of our community, providing a community meeting space to forge connections, access the benefits of health & wellness, and connect with the beauty of our natural world. Sequoia Park has provided this to our community since 1894, and we are very excited to unveil the details for the Sequoia Park Improvement Project to ensure it continues to provide these benefits for generations to come.

As you may have noticed, there is construction activity currently underway at Sequoia Park. This is Phase 1 in the works (the green section on the map below), made possible due to a competitive grant from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) for the Redwood Sky Walk and park improvement funds. The northeast corner is receiving improvements first due to the close proximity to the Redwood Sky Walk and meeting grant requirements including ADA access, roadway improvements, and diverse play elements.

How did this come to fruition?

In 2017-2018, an extensive community input process was conducted with an outpouring of community support and feedback, made possible by Redwood Capital Bank who provided the funds for Greenway Partners to create preliminary designs. A community fundraising campaign will be launching soon to carry the remaining phases to the finish line.

Why is this project so important?

Community feedback has indicated that outdated and broken amenities such as old restrooms and playground equipment are in dire need of replacement. Furthermore, there is limited ADA access in and around the park which limits the ability for all to enjoy this special space. The beloved open green space will be improved with new grass and irrigation for lounging in the sun and playing games as our community has enjoyed for over a century. The swings will be updated with more seating options including the addition of inclusive seats and a seat where you can sit across from your child! All improvements were carefully vetted to ensure this project enhances what is loved, restores what is broken, and provides what is missing.

Park use during construction:

Construction will be active over the next few months. Please respect safety fencing and the construction crew as they are hard at work. If you have any concerns or questions, they are best directed to the Eureka Community Services Department rather than on-site contractors. You can reach us at 707-441-4241 or by email..