Is the Park is associated with a of community supported agricultural (CSA) program?

Yes! The CalFresh Outreach Program is a modified CSA available to qualified residents. Read all about it HERE.

What can you tell us about future SHCP Trails?

The Riparian Interpretive Trail: Downstream, visitors will have an opportunity to experience views of the river, a vast and beautiful open-space meadow, and 21 acres of certified organic farmland, including an active dry-land farming area demonstrating water conservation techniques. The Riparian Interpretive Trail will also include nearly 1/4 of a mile of ADA accessible trail through 7+ acres of old-growth redwood at Tooby Memorial Park. We hope to eventually connect the parkway to Benbow Lake State Park and the regional redwood trail system.

Why was it important for the park to change to its zoning and land use designations?

Formerly, the Park property was zoned Agriculture-Exclusive (AE), which is the most restrictive zoning. Without a “Recreation overlay,” many of the activities that we wanted to enjoy at the park were inconsistent with AE zoning. In this category are activities like:

  • hiking
  • bicycling
  • birthday parties
  • weddings
  • memorials
  • bike races and clinics
  • painting workshops
  • picnicking
  • baby showers
  • exercise classes
  • non-profit benefits

The Park requested a General Plan Amendment to add a Public Recreation (PR) land use designation to the entire parcel. This allows recreation, education and research uses along with the existing natural resource and resource production uses. Under the PR designation, the public can use our Park and we retain Agricultural zoning on the 305 acre bulk of the property. The 96-acre area zoned as Public Recreation allows for the possibility of future community and recreational infrastructure.

For more information on this issue, see our General Plan Amendment application on our ERI and Documents page.

As of 2018, the rezoning process was completed (see the EIR page).

What is the park’s organizational structure and how does that relate to public participation in SHCP board meetings?

Public benefit entities qualifying for 501(c)(3) non-profit status may be structured as “membership” or “non-membership” organizations.  Some examples of “membership” structured boards are KMUD, Redwoods Rural Health Center, the Mateel Community Center, and Mattole Restoration Council.  These organizations have a roster of members in good standing who can choose or elect the persons on their boards of directors. This structure tends to include boards with people with broad name recognition or effective campaigners. However, it may set the board up for potential disruption by minority factions or mischievous outsiders.

A “non-membership” structure allows an organization to choose its own board. Directors can be chosen specifically for :

  • their commitment to the organization’s goals,
  • the energy they have available contribute to its service, and
  • the mutual compatibility of their various personalities as participants in a smoothly-functioning, effective cooperative group.  

Besides Southern Humboldt Community Park, local non-profits that have chosen this structure include:

  • Friends of the Eel River
  • Hospice of Humboldt
  • Institute for Sustainable Forestry
  • Redwoods Forest Foundation Inc
  • Sanctuary Forest
  • Trees Foundation, and
  • (WISH) Womens Crisis Shelter in Southern Humboldt

This structure is common. In fact, Humboldt Area Foundation is now recommending non-profits adopt this structure, except in cases where conditions make the “membership” framework desirable.

A “membership” organization is obliged to give notice of its board meetings and make them open to the public.  Because “non-membership” status doesn’t have that requirement, it permits meetings on short notice and at irregular intervals. This more closely meets the actual needs of an organization.

The Park Board is committed to holding regular public board meetings and encourages both community participation and easy access to information about the Park. For information about board meeting schedule please contact us.