Steven Washburn -- Vice Chairman 
About the Eureka Dog Park Project
A safe fenced area for Fido to run off-leash legally without bothering anyone? It sounds like a dream, but it just might become a reality. We have the site, we have the plan, we have the permits, now we need your help!
Citizens started asking for a Dog Park in Eureka way back in 1996. Dog parks were popping up allover the world and were shown to be an excellent way of socializing and exercising your dogs to make them happier, healthier, and friendlier.
In 2002 the demand for a dog park grew to the point that the city of Eureka began looking for possible sites. Site selection was a long and difficult process. Every property owned by the City of Eureka was evaluated. Many of the properties already used by dog owners were too close to wetlands and protected coastal areas. After years of having various properties rejected it was decided that only one property was available for Eureka’s first dog park. That property is located behind General Hospital next to the Sheriff’s SWAP yard (also known as the Senior Wood Project).
The site wasn’t without its controversies. The city hadn’t used the site for years but was allowing the Sheriff’s Department to use the land for their woodcutting and storage operations. Suddenly, dog lovers were being accused of wanting Seniors to go without wood for heat. That couldn’t have been farther from the truth. We didn’t want to hurt anyone. We just wanted a place where our dogs could run and play. Luckily, by adding a separate driveway to give the Sheriff’s Department access to their wood, and zigzagging our fencing around one of their storage buildings we will be able to accommodate both the SWAP program and a dog park, with no decrease in wood for seniors.
Next came the design phase of the park. Many dog park designs, including those in Santa Rosa and Redding, were researched to determine the best design for our park. Then Philippe Lapotre of “Lapotre & Cleek Architecture and Drafting”donated his services to design the park.
The dog park is designed to be completed in phases. The first phase will include clearing brush from the lot, putting up fencing and double gates for separate small and large dog areas, setting up water for the dogs and their humans, as well as grading and paving the parking lot with a handicapped space, and making an accessible path to the fenced area. Additional phases will add more walking paths, a separate picnic area with a gazebo, restrooms, a dog washing station, and a children’s play area.
So, when will all this be built? When will the much anticipated Eureka Dog Park be open? The City of Eureka has given us a permit to use the land to build a dog park. The rest is up to us. We need to raise money and get donations of services, materials, and labor to build the park. That’s where you and I come in. If we all pitch in we can get this park built!
That’s why we’ve formed the Eureka Dog Park Fundraising Committee. Councilman Jeff Leonard was kind enough to bring us together and help us set up the committee. He has continued as our liaison with the Eureka City Council (though he is not on the committee). We are not city employees, we are just a small group of citizens who love our dogs and want a place for them to play off-leash. We would like you to join us in our fundraising efforts in whatever capacity you can. You could help by donating anything from ideas, to money, to time and labor. Every little bit gets us a step closer to doggie
The Dog Park Committee
Steven Washburn -- Vice Chairman
Amy Washburn --
Secretary, Media Coordinator, Phone & E-mail contact 
Tina Moulton -- Webmaster 
Frank Stewart -- Event
Coordinator 
Cindy Rasmussen -- Event Coordinator 
Anne Ziegler -- Volunteer
Coordinator 
Alyson Hunter -- Resource Coordinator
Kathy Sobilo --
Historian & Photographer 
Metta Bryans -- Friendraiser/Fundraiser 