5

Parks, Recreation, and Open SpaceThis chapter is a guide to the parks, recreation and open space resources in Humboldt
County. Humboldt is home to recreational, park, and open space resources of statewide,
nationwide, and even global significance. With this in mind, the first two sections describe
these resources, while the final section addresses existing policies and policy issues identified
during Phase I along with policy options that respond to them.

5.1

PARK AND RECREATION FACILITIES

Humboldt County has a wealth of outdoor recreational opportunities and areas ofincomparable value and unsurpassed beauty. More than twenty percent of the county’s 2.3
million acres are protected open space, forests, and recreation areas. Within the county
boundaries, there are 4 federal parks and beaches, 10 state parks (3 of which are encompassed
by Redwood National Park), 16 county parks and beaches, recreational areas and reserves,and National Parkland and National Forest land. These areas contribute to the quality of lifein Humboldt County and provide needed recreation opportunities for residents ofneighboring counties and from all over the world as well. Parklands are important elementsof the Humboldt economy through both their role in the timber industry and the tourist
industry. As tourism eclipses timber as the stronghold of Humboldt’s economy, parks andrecreational resources will prove of greater and greater value to Humboldt’s future.
The natural qualities of Humboldt County attract a great many people from outside thecounty. The tourist industry and demand for park resources in Humboldt are linked to theaccessibility of parkland. Transportation is critical to the future demand and use of
Humboldt’s many resources. Additionally, it must be determined at what level parklands andnatural preserves can be enjoyed and maintained as habitats. In some instances, the numberof tourists wandering through the redwood forests are compacting the surrounding soils andchoking the roots.
Several regulatory agencies manage the parks, recreation, and open space resources in
Humboldt including the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), California Department of Fish
and Game, United States Forest Service (USFS), California State Parks Department, local city
governments, Humboldt County, Local Native American Tribes, and other state and federal
regulatory agencies.
The total acreages of park and reserve lands in unincorporated Humboldt County are listed inTable 5-1. Nearly 468,000 acres of National Forest, Park, and Wildlife lands are in the
Unincorporated County. The County has about 76,000 acres of State Beach, Parks, andReserve Lands and 7,600 acres of Bureau of Land Management Reserve Lands. Figure 5-1
maps the location and extent of the parklands and open space in Humboldt County.

5-1

Humboldt County General Plan Update Existing Conditions
Resource Management and Planning for Hazards

Table 5-1: Parkland in Unincorporated Humboldt County by Watershed

Watershed

National Forest/
Park/ Wildlife State Beach/ Park/BLM Forest
Lands
Reserve Lands County Park Lands Reserve Lands

Total Acreage

Eureka Plain

2,227

593

86

7,478

10,384Lower Eel

20

4,654

18

94

4,786

Lower Klamath

140,231705

00140,936

Lower Trinity

93,52700093,527Mad River

30,75134327

031,111

Mattole58,154

1,474

33

0

59,661

Middle Main Eel

3,214

374

0

0

3,588

Redwood Creek

70,27912,2050082,484South Fork Eel

051,5334

051,537

South Fork Trinity

52,33400052,334

Trinidad

963

4,153

89

0

5,204

Van Duzen

16,231

407

228

14

16,879

Total

467,931

76,131

785

7,586

552,433

Note: Numbers may not sum due to rounding
Source: Humboldt County GIS, 2002.

STATE AND NATIONAL PARKS, BEACHES, CONSERVATION AREAS, AND
RESERVESAs shown in Table 5-1, Humboldt County is home to over 500,000 acres of state and nationalland. The old-growth redwood forests of the Humboldt coastline are some of the last left in
the world, providing critical habitat for a number of endangered and threatened species. The
cultural significance of the preservation of the natural areas is equal to the environmental
significance. These wilderness areas attract visitors and recreationists from all over the world.
Federal lands are located generally on the perimeter of Humboldt County, with Six Rivers
National Forest along the eastern border of the County, Redwood National Park in thenorthwestern corner of the County, and the King Range National Conservation Area along
the southwest coastline. Several key federal parklands are described below.

5-2Chapter 5: Parks, Recreation, and Open Space

Figure 5-1: Parks and Open Space in Humboldt County

5-3Humboldt County General Plan Update Existing Conditions
Resource Management and Planning for Hazards

King Range National Conservation Area
Under the management of the Bureau of Land Management, the 54,200-acre King Range
National Conservation Area is home to the largest stretch of untouched beach on thenorthern Pacific coast. This rugged and remote coastal area known as the “lost coast” is kept
essentially untouched by civilization with the only access through narrow winding roads andlimited facilities in the conservation area. The dramatic meeting of the Pacific Ocean with theKing Range provides an opportunity to observe the interaction of many different ecosystems.
This conservation area provides important recreational opportunities for backpackers whowish to get away from urbanization.
Redwood National and State Parks
Redwood National Park is a joint venture between the National Park Service and theCalifornia Department of Parks and Recreation. The park contains three state parks, Del
Norte Coast, Jedediah Smith, and Prairie Creek, under cooperative management with the
National Park Service. Altogether this park is 106,000 acres, with 30 miles of coastline, 150
miles of hiking trails, and more than 351 developed campsites. Humboldt County’s portion of
the park is 67,443 acres of federal land and 15,122 acres of state land. The Redwood Nationaland State Parks are considered a globally significant biological preserve and were designated aWorld Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization(UNESCO) in 1980. They were also named part of the United Nations International
Biosphere Program’s California Coast Ranges Biosphere Reserve in 1983. The resources
protected are significant locally, nationally, and globally. The tallest tree on earth, a 367 footRedwood, is located in this park.
Six Rivers National Forest
Six Rivers National Forest is named for the six rivers, Smith, Klamath, Trinity, Eel, Van
Duzen, and Mad, which create 1,500 miles of waterways through it’s nearly one million acresof wilderness. The forest is also home to six botanical areas, two scenic byways, four
wilderness areas, several lakes, numerous campgrounds, 230 miles of trails, Smith River
National Recreation area, and 35% of California's Wild and Scenic Rivers.
Table 5-2: Federal Parks and Beaches in Humboldt County
Park

Acres

Facilities

Activities

Mattole Headwaters
Ecological Reserve

7,400

20 acres of the reserve areopen for recreational activities

Beachcombing, birdwatching

King Range National
Conservation Area

54,200

5 developed campgrounds andseveral primitive camp sites;
16 miles of trails

Saltwater and freshwater fishing,camping, hiking, hunting, off-roadvehicle use,

Redwood National Park

106,000

Nearly 200 miles of hiking
trails, campgrounds, youth
hostel, 5 visitor centers

Hiking, camping, picnicking,birdwatching, whale-watching,horseback riding

Six Rivers National
Forest990,000

Developed campgrounds

Hiking, mountain biking, kayaking,canoeing, rafting, hunting,swimming, camping, fishing,birdwatching, horseback riding

5-4Chapter 5: Parks, Recreation, and Open SpaceThe State Park System integrates with the Federal and County park systems often connectingwith or nestled within a larger park system. The Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park isincorporated into the Redwood National State Park System. The Little River State Parkadjoins the Clam Beach County Park together creating a larger swath of open space.
Additionally, the State Parks in the county contain many significant natural resources. The
Humboldt Redwoods state park is the largest of the California Redwood state parks andcontains the largest remaining stand of virgin redwoods in the world. State parks also offer
community events, sites of historic and cultural significance, and recreation for inhabitants of
Humboldt and all of California. The State park system provides resources of regional
importance in Humboldt County with recreational opportunities along the coastal areas
closer to population centers and along rivers.
Table 5-3: State Parks in Humboldt County
Park

Acres

Facilities

Activities

Azalea State Reserve

30

Nature trail; Picnic tables

Picnicking

Campsites; Picnic area

Hiking; Picnicking; Camping; Fishing;Home to Reggae on the River andJazz on the Lake
Picnicking; Educational tours

N/A

Historic reconstruction of buildings, grassy bluff,
picnic tables, outdoor logging machinery displays,
logging museum, fort museum, bookstore andrestrooms

Grizzly Creek
Redwoods

Canoeing; Kayaking; Fishing;
Swimming; Camping; Hiking

N/A

30 campsites, group camp and picnic area, 4.5 milesof hiking trails, horse shoe pit, environmental camp,
visitor center with exhibits and bookstore

Harry A. Merlo

830

Benbow Lake

Fort Humboldt

Humboldt Lagoons

1,200

Fishing; Boating
Coastal Trail; Visitor center and bookstore; Picnic
areas

Boating; Fishing; Beachcombing;
Hiking; Bird watching; Whalewatching; Agate Hunting
Hiking; Fishing; Canoeing; Swimming;
Mountain Biking

N/A

Humboldt Redwoods

52,000100 miles of hiking trails; Family, group, horse,
bicycle and backpack camps; Visitor center withexhibits and bookstore

Little River

N/ACamp and day use facilities

Beachcombing
Beachcombing; Agate Hunting;
Whale and Sea Lion watching; Hiking

Patrick's Point

640

Hiking trails; a reconstructed Yurok Indian Village;
Native plant garden; Bookstore; Three family
campgrounds; Group camp; Camp for hikers andbicyclists; Picnic areas.

Prairie Creek
Redwoods

14,000Visitor center with exhibits and a nature store;
Campgrounds; Hiking and Biking Trails

Hiking; Nature Study; Wildlife
viewing; Beachcombing; Picnicking
Camping; Hiking; Swimming; FishingRichardson Grove

N/A

Hiking Trails; Picnic Area; Nature Store; CampStore; Visitor Center with Exhibits; Redwood
Theater

Sinkyone Wilderness

7,367

Hiking, biking, and horse trails; Visitor Center;
Room rentals at Needle Rock Ranch House

Hiking; Mountain Biking; Horseback
ridingTrinidad

N/A

Facilities; Picnic area; Parking area; Hiking trails;
horse trail; beach access

Hiking; Horseback riding; Fishing;
Surfing

Source: http://www.parks.ca.gov/parkindex, 2002.
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Humboldt County General Plan Update Existing Conditions
Resource Management and Planning for Hazards

COUNTY PARKS

Humboldt County has a great wealth of park resources sized for the existing community’srecreational and open space needs. The County owns and maintains 16 parks and trails.
County parklands are focused on the County’s water resources, with locations along thecoastline and along rivers. With approximately 826 acres of County owned parkland in theentire County, there are approximately 6.2 acres of County Park Land for every 1,000
residents.
Table 5-3: County Parks and Trails
Park

Acres

Facilities

Activities

Planned Improvements

Arthur W. Way County
Memorial Park

20

R.V. and tent sites; Water,
Restrooms

Swimming; Fishing;Camping

Upgrade electrical; Septic systemfor caretaker residence; New
picnic tables and fire rings; Replace
restroom

Big Lagoon County Park

52

R.V. and tent sites; Water;
Restrooms; Boat ramp and floating
dock

Swimming; Fishing;
Canoeing; Camping
Beachcombing;Roadside fence replacement; Picnic
table replacement; Additional
toilets; Hot showers

Centerville BeachCounty Park2

Parking; Chemical toilet in summer

Beachcombing; Fishing

None Planned

Clam Beach County
Park

370

R.V. and tent sites; Water;
Restrooms

Beachcombing; Fishing;Camping

Electricity to restroom; Payphone;Two camp host sites; Boulders at
beach vehicle access

Crab County Park

10.5

Parking

Beachcombing; Wildlife
viewing

None Planned

Fields Landing County
Park

1.5

Boat ramp and floating docks;
Restrooms; Picnic tables; Vehicle &boat trailer parking

Fishing; Picnicking; Boating

None Planned

Freshwater County
Park

7

Restrooms; Picnic tables;Children’s playground; Summer
swimming hole behind seasonal
dam; Gazebo for parties

Picnicking; Swimming;
Parties/ reunions

New playground border; Replace
picnic tables; New entrance gate;
Landscaping; Upgrade caretakerresidence; Fish ladder at seasonaldam

Hammond Trail

5 Miles

Partially paved trail with numerous
access points

Hiking; Bicycling;
Equestrian

Bridge over Strawberry Creek;
Construction of Widow White
Creek segment (~2000 feet)

Luffenholtz BeachCounty Park

7.5

Picnic tables; Restrooms; Trails forbeach access & overlook

Beachcombing; Picnicking;Trail improvements; Parking area
resurfacing

Mad River County Park

95.5

Boat launch ramp; Picnic tables;
Restrooms; Vehicle & boat trailer
parking

Beachcombing; Boating;Fishing; Picnicking

None Planned

Moonstone BeachCounty Park8

Parking; Chemical toilets

Beachcombing; Surfing

None planned

Pedrazzini County Park1

Unimproved boat access

Boating; Fishing

New boat ramp; Vehicle & boat
trailer parking

Samoa County Park

8

R.V. and tent sites; Boat launchramp; Restrooms

Fishing; Boating; Picnicking;Camping

Full R.V. hookups; Additional
toilets; Hot showers

Table Bluff County Park34

Parking

Beachcombing

None Planned

Tooby Memorial Park

9

Picnic tables; Restrooms;
Children’s playground

Swimming; Picnicking

Ownership Pending

Van Duzen County Park

200

R.V. and tent sites; Restrooms;
Water

Swimming; Hiking; Fishing;Camping; Picnicking

New R.V. sites; Additional toilets &new flush toilets; Road resurfacing

Source: Humboldt County Public Works Department, 2002.

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Chapter 5: Parks, Recreation, and Open Space

While the County has many park and recreation resources, funding from the County GeneralFund has decreased steadily over the past ten years, while revenues from park attendance haveincreased steadily indicating greater use of existing parklands. Despite increases in use anddemand on park facilities, the number of County park employees has remained constant.
Park revenues indicate a steady increase in demand for park resources with a near doubling inpark fees collected in just ten years. This trend can be observed in Figure 5-2.
Figure 5-2: Humboldt County Parks Ten-Year Funding Comparison
10$210,000$200,000$190,000$180,000$170,000$160,000$150,000$140,000$130,000$120,000$110,000$100,000

9
8
7
6
5

Staff

4
3
2
1
92/93 93/94 94/95 95/96 96/97 97/98 98/99 99/00 00/01 01/02 02/03
Fiscal Year
General Fund Contribution

Park Revenue Collected

Number of Staff

Source: Humboldt County Department of Public Works

5.2

OPEN SPACE

Wide open spaces, whether those are in parkland, agriculture, timber production, orpreserved open space, are characteristic of Humboldt County. Preserved open space has
beneficial impacts on the economy. Proximity to wildlife and open space increases real estatevalues, therefore a housing development well endowed with open space resources yields
greater returns to the developer and the County through increased property values.
Additionally, open space policies that promote compact development and “smart growth”
reduce management costs for public infrastructure, such as water supply, waste disposal, andtransportation costs. Future development in the unincorporated county should be mindful ofthe value of open spaces.
The different categories of open space that could be established in the General Plan,consistent with state planning law, are further described below in the discussion of issues andpolicy options.

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Humboldt County General Plan Update Existing Conditions
Resource Management and Planning for Hazards

5.3

POLICY ISSUESThis section focuses on parks, recreation and open space issues from a public policy
perspective, starting with existing park standards and policies in the General Plan. As withother resources, the County must consider the various policy options for the issues identified
in Phase I of the General Plan Update, which are summarized in the Critical Choices Report.
These key questions help frame the issues for policy options for open space resources. The
policy evaluation worksheets that will be used to guide discussion of these issues are in the
Appendix.
LOCAL PARK STANDARDSThere are currently no countywide park standards in Humboldt. However, individual cities
within the County have developed their own standards. McKinleyville maintains a standardof 3 acres per 1,000 residents. However, future park demand in McKinleyville depends uponreliance on state and county facilities or the creation of more local parks. The city of Eureka
maintains a standard of 1 acre of Neighborhood Parks and 3 acres of Community Parks per
1,000 residents. While these standards are below the National Park and Recreation
Association recommendations, they site their proximity to state and federal parkland as
decreasing the need for local open space and parkland.
EXISTING POLICIESThe County General Plan (Framework Plan) establishes the following policies related to parks
and recreation.
County Parks and Recreation
GOAL

To provide and adequately maintain park and recreation opportunities which are highly
accessible and reflective of public needs; to protect park resources from incompatible uses;
and to plan park development in such a manner as to minimize environmental impacts.
POLICIES

1.

The County should continue to support efforts to acquire, develop, and maintaincounty parks and recreation areas that are highly accessible to the public, and serve
the unstructured outdoor recreational needs of County residents and tourists.

2.

The County shall give priority to the County residents' outdoor recreational needs.

3.

Plans for the development of additional County recreational facilities andopportunities shall consider the County's long-term capabilities for the maintenanceof all facilities and opportunities.

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Chapter 5: Parks, Recreation, and Open Space

4.

The County shall encourage the private acquisition, development, and preservation of
outdoor recreational resources and opportunities and facilities, and the County will
coordinate recreation plans with all appropriate agencies.

5.

The County shall pursue all feasible sources of funding for the maintenance,development or acquisition of recreational facilities and programs consistent with this
plan.

6.

The County Parks and Recreation Division staff shall continue to provide information
regarding recreational opportunities within Humboldt County and input into land
use planning decisions insofar as those decisions may affect recreational opportunities
in the County.

7.

Policies addressing community recreational needs shall be prepared as part of each
community plan.

COASTAL ZONE POLICIESThe California Coastal Act sets out a series of policies to protect and enhance the California
Coastal Zone. The Coastal Zone as described by the California Coastal Act is an importantbiological and recreational resource that must be managed accordingly. Access to therecreational resource of California’s coastline must be maximized. Lower cost recreational
facilities, including hotels, are encouraged in the Coastal Zone. Oceanfront land suitable forrecreational uses should be protected for those uses, including recreational boating.
ISSUES AND OPTIONSEach key question or issue raised in the Critical Choices Report that relate to open spaceresources is discussed below. Based on County and public input, these policy options will be
refined. Some of these options also will shape preparation of “sketch plans” (generalized land
use plans for accommodating future development), while others will be implemented throughzoning and subdivision regulations or other programs.
ISSUE•

Which open space assets need protections through Plan policies or County programs?

Many open space assets in Humboldt County are already preserved in parks, agriculturalpreserves, and open space preserves. In a General Plan, open space assets include agriculturaland timberlands, other resource lands, land for parks and recreation and land wheredevelopment should be prohibited or strictly limited because of natural hazards. These typesof open space have been discussed in previous chapters of this report. Open space also can
include greenbelts – open space to shape and limit urban form.
To create a comprehensive framework for open space management, it may be helpful tosynthesize open space assets, using the categories for open space as established in stateplanning law. State planning law provides a structure for the preservation of open space byidentifying four open space categories:
5-9Humboldt County General Plan Update Existing Conditions
Resource Management and Planning for Hazards•

Open space for public health and safety including, but not limited to, areas that
require special management or regulation due to hazardous or special conditions.
This type of open space might include: earthquake fault zones, unstable soil areas,
floodplains, watersheds, areas presenting high fire risks, areas required for theprotection of water quality and water reservoirs, and areas required for the protectionand enhancement of air quality.

•

Open space for the preservation of natural resources including, but not limited to,areas required for the preservation of plant and animal life, including: habitat for fish
and wildlife species; areas required for ecologic and other scientific study purposes;
rivers, streams, bays and estuaries; coastal beaches, lakeshores, banks of rivers andstreams; and watershed lands.

•

Open space used for the managed production of resources including, but not limited
to, forest lands, timber lands, rangeland, agricultural lands and areas of economic
importance for the production of food or fiber; areas required for recharge of groundwater basins; bays, estuaries, marshes, rivers and streams that are important for the
management of commercial fisheries; and areas containing major mineral deposits,
including those in short supply.

•

Open space for outdoor recreation including, but not limited to, areas of outstanding
scenic, historic and cultural value; areas particularly suited for park and recreation
purposes, including access to lakeshores, beaches, and rivers and streams; and areasthat serve as links between major recreation and open-space reservations, including
utility easements, banks of rivers and streams, trails, and scenic highway corridors.

In addition to these classifications, a fifth open space category could be established to support
implementation of Urban Growth Boundaries (UGBs).
•

Open space to shape and limit urban form including, but not limited to, areas meetingother open space objectives, such as greenbelts and open space corridors establishedto implement community design goals or objectives. The Greenway and Open Space
Combining Zone that is used in the Eureka Planning Area is an example of this typeof open space.

Designating these open space resources on a General Plan map is not intended to imply thatthe public interest would be best served by prohibiting development on all lands. Rather,
these open space resources likely signify one of three possible scenarios depending upon thehazard potential, fragility, location, regulatory constraints, and other pertinent factors:•

All development should be prohibited.

•

Development should be permitted on part of the land and the balance preserved as
open space—a clustering concept.

5-10Chapter 5: Parks, Recreation, and Open Space•

Development should be permitted subject to subdivision and site plan review and theimposition of specific conditions to protect against hazards and preserve the integrityof the land and the environment.

The synthesis suggested by this open space classification system, and the implications fordevelopment opportunities, also is discussed Chapter 14, Summary of Opportunities andConstraints. Chapter 14 also includes a series of maps for the community planning areas andfor the Coastal Zone that show how planned development under the current General Plan
would be affected by resource constrains and hazards.
Option 5.1 Establish an open space classification system to summarize open space resourcesin the County and serve as a framework for land use planning and environmental
resource management programs. This summary diagram of open space resources also
can be helpful in identifying where appropriate linkages may be needed between parks
and trails systems and the County’s coastal access program.
ISSUE

•

Considering economic development initiatives, incentive programs and regulatory
approaches, how can long-term protection be achieved?

The best way to achieve long-term protection of open space assets is to have a multi-faceted
program, including zoning and environmental resource management programs as well as
incentives for habitat conservation and agricultural land conservation that complement theCounty’s Timber Production Zones and other economic development strategies and support
the federal, state and local park system and management programs for public lands. Secure
funding for long-term protection also can help.
As previously suggested, the County could be more pro-active in supporting efforts ofagricultural and open space land trusts, who can support long-term open space preservation
programs. Leveraging funds also is important, a principle the County already has identified
as important in discussions about how best to use Headwaters Funds.
If there are valuable open space resources that are unique, significant natural areas, forexample, that provide habitat for threatened or endangered species or represent valuable
recreational resources, and also are threatened by development proposals, and regulations
and incentives will not provide the protection that County residents want, the County could
consider creating an open space acquisition program to add land to the County parks system,
thereby creating a parks and open space system. What would be needed to create such an
open space system would be a secure funding source, separate from the County’s GeneralFund, for planning, land acquisition and management of parks and open space resources.
This could be in the form of a dedicated tax approved by the voters, such as an increase in theTransient Occupancy Tax, a Utility Users’ Tax or a Property Transfer Tax. If such a tax werededicated for open space acquisition and management only, a two-thirds voter approval isrequired.

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Humboldt County General Plan Update Existing Conditions
Resource Management and Planning for Hazards

Option 5.2 Establish a secure funding source for open space acquisition and management
sufficient to enable acquisition of high priority open space that can not otherwise bepreserved by regulatory incentives or partnerships with non-profit land trusts or otheropen space and agricultural conservation organizations. This funding source could
complement use of the Headwaters Funds which are intended to improve the economy
and create new jobs by focusing on preserving and enhancing critical open spaceresources and integrating them into a comprehensive parks and open space system.
Protecting critical environmental resources also will be good for tourism – a building
block for “smart growth.”

5-12