Press release from the City of Eureka:

The City of Eureka is pleased to announce that construction of Grace Marton Memorial Park will begin this spring and continue through the end of the year. The park will feature a playground, picnic areas, plantings, and game areas. The project also includes resurfacing the waterfront trail from the Adorni Center to just beyond the Samoa Bridge. In addition, the trail will be realigned to follow the bayside of the new park, replacing the current route that passes through the Sacco Amphitheater.

The new Grace Marton Memorial Park will be located on the lawn area in front of the Sacco Amphitheater and is made possible by a generous donation from Lance Hardie and Grace Marton. Combined with City funds and Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) grant funding, this support brings the total project budget to $1,239,979.

The project is anticipated to break ground in April 2026 and be completed by the end of the year. As part of early preparation work, 10 trees along the waterfront trail will be removed. These removals are necessary because existing tree roots have caused damage to the trail surface, creating safety and maintenance concerns. The removed trees will each be replaced with California native catalina ironwoods which are better suited in size and root structure for the trail environment. They will be thoughtfully planted to support long-term trail durability while enhancing the natural character of the waterfront.

This project has been carefully reviewed and is fully compliant with all applicable regulations, including approval from the California Coastal Commission. Tree removal will take place outside of nesting season to protect local wildlife. The City does not take the removal of mature trees lightly and evaluates many factors before making these decisions such as tree health, public safety, visibility, and infrastructure impacts.

As construction commences, there will be closures around the project site and pedestrian reroutes will be provided.

For more information about the project, please visit this link.