News Flash

The County of Humboldt is excited to begin construction on the Big Lagoon County Park Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Compliance Project on Monday, May 5.

This project aims to improve accessibility and modernize park facilities to better serve all visitors. Planned improvements include upgrades to Big Lagoon County Park’s day-use area and campground facilities. 

Supported by a $400,000 grant from the California Department of Parks and Recreation's Per Capita Grant Program, the project was made possible through Proposition 68, a bond measure approved by California voters in 2018 to support local park rehabilitation and development, with an emphasis on equitable access to outdoor public spaces.

The Big Lagoon County Park ADA Compliance Project is part of the county’s continued efforts to bring all county programs, services and activities into compliance with the ADA.

Project Details

Big Lagoon County Park’s restrooms and facilities have not been updated in decades, so these long-overdue upgrades will significantly improve the overall park experience for visitors. 

At the day-use area, work will include the installation of new concrete pathways and curbs with detectable warning systems, the addition of accessible parking spaces - including a space for recreational vehicles, new accessible picnic and seating areas, and remodeled restrooms with accessible stalls and an outdoor rinsing shower. A new greywater system will also be installed in addition to an accessible drinking fountain with a bottle filler.

Campground renovations will feature accessibility improvements to restroom stalls and showers, new concrete pathways with detectable warning surfaces that connect restrooms to campsites, accessible parking adjacent to the restrooms, and new accessible campsite amenities including picnic tables, fire pits and electrical plug-in boards at designated campsites.

Construction Timing and What to Expect

Work for this project will begin on Monday, May 5.

Big Lagoon County Park will remain open throughout the duration of the project, with only minor disruptions to park amenities. Restroom closures are scheduled in late September to minimize impacts during the busy summer season. 

The project is anticipated to be completed by early November. 

The Big Lagoon County Park ADA Compliance Project is a joint effort of Humboldt County’s Department of Public Works and the County Administrative Office’s ADA Compliance Team. The project reflects the County of Humboldt's broader commitment to ensure all public facilities comply with ADA accessibility standards and promote equal access to recreational opportunities for residents and visitors alike.

For more information about the Big Lagoon County Park ADA Compliance Project, please call 707-445-7266 or email ADA@co.humboldt.ca.us. 

To find more information on Humboldt County’s beautiful county parks, trails and campgrounds, please visit humboldtgov.org/parks.

To learn more about the County of Humboldt’s ADA Compliance Team and projects, please visit humboldtgov.org/ADA.

Pictured: Restrooms at Big Lagoon County Park. Image courtesy of the Humboldt County ADA Compliance Team.

Upgrades to the restrooms will be made thanks to the Big Lagoon County Park ADA Compliance Project.

The Environmental Services Division of the Humboldt County Public Works Department is excited to announce that the swimming area at Freshwater County Park is ready to be enjoyed following installation of the seasonal dam on Freshwater Creek. The dam is expected to stay installed through Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 2 and will be removed prior to the winter wet season.

Hours of Operation, Fees and Amenities

Freshwater Park is open from sunrise to sunset for a day-use fee of $5 per vehicle, or $2 for walk-ins or bike-ins. Annual passes are available for purchase for $45 at the gate house. In addition to the swimming area, amenities at Freshwater Park include an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible playground, volleyball court, restroom and picnic areas. Parking is available subject to vehicle limits. The Freshwater Park gazebo area is open for group reservations through Saturday, Nov. 30. To make a gazebo reservation, please call 707-445-7651.

Tips for Visiting

The water in the Freshwater Park swimming area is cold, so visitors should prepare accordingly. For the safety of the public, please not use alcohol or drugs, including some prescription drugs, before swimming at Freshwater Park. Small children and inexperienced swimmers should wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket or flotation device while swimming. The use of water wings is not recommended for small children.

Park visitors are asked to be courteous to other people at the park and respectful of the wildlife and plant communities. Dogs are not allowed due to the high density of park visitors. Camping, motorcycles, fires and firearms are prohibited.

About the Freshwater Park Swimming Area

Freshwater Park is an eight-acre county park located approximately seven miles from Eureka, at 3100 Freshwater Rd., approximately 3.5 miles southeast of Myrtle Ave. The County of Humboldt has owned and operated Freshwater Park since 1939. Freshwater Creek meanders through the park, and the park’s main attraction during the summer is a swimming area created by a seasonal dam, which has been installed most summers since the 1920s.

Freshwater Creek drains into Humboldt Bay via Eureka Slough and provides productive habitat for salmon and steelhead. Upon installation of the seasonal dam, the pool provides deep, cold water that is an ideal environment for juvenile fish. A concrete fish ladder allows juvenile fish to move freely upstream and downstream of the dam when inflows are sufficient. The concrete fish ladder is adjacent to the dam and viewable by the public.

After several weeks of work by the Humboldt County Parks Division to remove sediment from the fish ladder, removable I-beams and flashboard panels are installed with a crane to form the seasonal dam. The Department of Public Works would like to thank the Humboldt County Roads Bridge Crew, California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Work Alternative Program for their tremendous work and partnership to safely install the dam this year.

For more information on Humboldt County parks and trails, please visit the Parks and Trails webpage or call 707-445-7651.

The swimming area at Freshwater County Park, photo courtesy of the Humboldt County Department of Public Works.

Construction of the Humboldt Bay Trail South project along the Humboldt Bay shoreline has made significant progress since its official kick-off in July 2023. The project is scheduled for completion at the end of 2024 and will expand the Humboldt Bay Trail by 4.25 miles, completing the multi-use trail connection between Eureka and Arcata. The project will also include several area improvements and repairs and will provide breathtaking views and up-close experiences of Humboldt Bay for residents and visitors of all ages and abilities.

The Humboldt Bay Trail is a network of multi-use trails, also known as shared-use paths, providing non-motorized access for transportation and recreational use throughout the Humboldt Bay region. Filling the gap in the Humboldt Bay Trail between Eureka and Arcata will transform the transportation corridor by separating pedestrians, cyclists, and other forms of non-motorized devices from motorists on Highway 101 and eliminate a major barrier to active transportation between the two largest population centers in Humboldt County.

“Our vision is to restore access to and protect the shoreline, provide a place for people to connect with each other and the natural world, and ensure a multi-use trail option for those traveling between Eureka and Arcata,” said Humboldt County Public Works Director Thomas K. Mattson. “This expansion will provide a paved, stand-alone path for community members who travel, commute, or recreate by bicycle, roller skates, skateboard, stroller, wheelchair or other mobility devices.”

Most of the new trail segment will run along the Humboldt Bay shoreline, adjacent to the railroad and Highway 101, with a one-mile portion situated on top of the levee around the Brainard Mill site. The project includes necessary repairs to stabilize portions of the shoreline along the railroad corridor, as well as raising the elevation of a one-mile segment of the railroad corridor for improved protection from flooding and sea level rise.

Project construction began in July 2023 and work completed to-date has included vegetation clearing, partial rail removal, Eucalyptus tree removal, earthwork and grading and rock placement for shoreline repair. Construction activities planned for 2024 include bridge retrofitting, rock and soil importation, construction of three new bridges, trail surface paving and placement of benches and signs. The planned schedule may be affected by a number of unexpected factors, including weather conditions and the supply chain for construction materials.

Funding for construction is provided by the California Transportation Commission’s Active Transportation Program, California State Coastal Conservancy and Caltrans District 1.

In addition to serving the region’s transportation needs and enhancing coastal access, the Humboldt Bay Trail will achieve a critical link in the California Coastal Trail and advance the Great Redwood Trail.

The overall Humboldt Bay Trail is being developed as a collaborative effort between the County of Humboldt, Humboldt County Association of Governments, City of Arcata, City of Eureka, California Department of Transportation, California State Coastal Conservancy, Great Redwood Trail Agency, Humboldt Trails Council, Redwood Community Action Agency, Timber Heritage Association and other partners. Additional information is available at humboldtbaytrail.info.

Humboldt Bay Trail South construction underway in 2023. Photo courtesy of Ghirardelli Associates.