Eureka Celebrates Its Newly-Completed Da’ Yas Park

The upgrading of Eureka’s parks took a big step on Sept. 13, when the former 20/30 Park was re-opened in its new incarnation, Da’ Yas Park.

Located between California and Union streets, the park has dramatically expanded its variety of recreational opportunities with roller hockey, futsal hard surface soccer, and full and half court basketball facilities.

A key feature of the park is its striking egret- and crab-themed playground.

A picnic area and restroom facility are also included.

It’s a dramatic change from the former park, which was mostly an open grassy space fringed by minimal playground and basketball areas.

In the works for years, the park’s $6.4 million development is paid for with a state grant.

The park was celebrated with a well-attended grand opening and ribbon-cutting event.

“I just want you to know how much I appreciate all of you being here today to celebrate this glorious day together,” said Mayor Kim Bergel before cutting the ribbon. “And that’s how we roll it out in Eureka — we’re a community, we’re together and that’s how it goes.”

The park is in Councilmember Kati Moulton’s ward and she described the towering egret play structure behind the audience as “a stunning piece of sculpture.”

Moulton highlighted the park’s social significance.

“Every time I go to a park, I meet somebody new and sometimes it’s awkward, and sometimes it’s amazing, that’s what these places are for,” she said. “Not just to get out and get some activity, some exposure to the sun and to touch grass and have healthy bodies but to have a healthy community that is built on being in places together, building connections together.”

Project Manager Robin Praszker noted the park’s founding in the early 1950s by the 20/30 Club, a now-disbanded civic group made up of 20- to 30-year-old men.

With a “new era” in effect, the park’s new name was chosen by residents who participated in a choosing process in collaboration with the Wiyot tribe.

Da’ Yas translates from the Wiyot language to “Where the Cypress Are,” referring to the park’s cypress trees.

In an interview, Praszker said the new park is “intentionally designed to renovate four acres into a space that serves all ages and abilities” and includes winding ADA-compliant walking paths.

Designed by the Melton Design Group firm, the egret play structures are custom-made.

“Nothing else exists like this in the world,” said Praszker.

Years in the making, the park’s overall design was shaped by rounds of community input, including meetings during the pandemic era when “we met out here with design boards and masks.”

Many residents supported changing the park’s name, with Da’ Yas emerging as the most-liked.

Development of the park included removal of two large cypress trees, however, prompting a neighbor to sarcastically suggest calling the park “Where the Cypress Were” during the open public comment period of a recent City Council meeting.

But Praszker said overall public comment favored creating “sight lines” to maintain visual contact with children and more than a dozen cypress trees remain. Another dozen have been planted in addition to the planting of other tree species, she continued.

Two more projects, the redevelopment of Carson Park and development of playground and recreational facilities at Halvorson Park, are expected to be completed next year.