It’s located near the Adorni Center at 921 Waterfront Drive. This is a moment years in the making.
“My crew team has been rowing past this site for many seasons and we’ve dreamed of this moment,” an excited crew team coach Robin Meiggs explains. “We watched it as a mud lot, we watched as the building started to take shape. We are now working out of a shed beside the Bay that doesn’t have running water or electricity. Creating the new Humboldt Bay Aquatic Center as a home for the HSU women’s crew team is a dream realized.” The team will be moving in once the 200 foot dock is constructed next year, but there will be many others who will benefit from this light blue building by the Bay in the meantime.
With its waterfront boardwalk, modern classrooms and views of the Woodley Island fishing and sailing fleet, the Humboldt Bay Aquatic Center is among the most attractive new additions to the Old Town Eureka cityscape. Completed in the spring of 2007, the $4.5 million building fulfills a long-awaited vision: to link the HSU campus with Humboldt Bay, the region’s most prized natural asset.
“It’s a big addition to the Eureka waterfront, and as this develops there will be a lot of new programs available to HSU students and the local community,” says Center Activities director Dave Nakamura, who oversees the new aquatic center.
Nakamura is now awaiting permits to build the 200-foot-long floating dock that, when completed in 2008, will allow students and members of the community to launch kayaks and a variety of boats onto the bay. Once the dock is built, the center will hold boating safety classes and instructional courses for water sports. The safety courses will be designed for what area residents can do on the water.
“There’s a lot of paddling up here and that will be taught on the bay. Small sailboat instruction will take place, too,” Mike Ammon, Contract Administrator with the California Department of Boating and Waterways says. “What this building means for the North Coast is better water safety. All aspects of boating will be taught.” The building also includes modern locker rooms and a workout facility for the crew teams.
“We’ve had great a relationship with HSU and they’ve done a terrific job of teaching boater safety over the years. It’s HSU’s track record that sold us on going ahead and giving this pretty big grant to build this building,” says Ammon. “This will be the last of the big efforts like this. We just don’t have this kind of funding anymore.”
The $4.5 million allocation for the building comes from the California Department of Boating and Waterways. The City of Eureka is also a partner in this project. The City supported it by leasing the land and the installation of support infrastructure, including access roads and sidewalks. The Center is integrated not only with the Adorni Center, but also with recently developed areas of the boardwalk such as the new small boat basin, the Wharfinger Building and other projects currently in development.
David Tyson, Eureka City Manager, is pleased it’s come to fruition. “It helps to improve the Eureka Waterfront. It’s a very solid partnership. I’m glad HSU has a presence in Eureka now.”
The Humboldt County Convention and Visitors Bureau sees economic development implications for the Aquatic Center. “As we position Eureka as a “Victorian Seaport” the interface and access to Humboldt Bay is critical for our product development,” explains Tony Smithers, Executive Director of the Humboldt County Convention and Visitors Bureau in Eureka. “Any development that replaces blighted industrial is welcome; the fact that the Aquatic Center is open to the Bay and embraces it, rather than just backing up to it, is perfect. Tieing in with the waterfront trail is also significant—just a little piece is needed before it will stretch from C Street to the Bridge!”
Officials on hand for the dedication ceremony include HSU President Rollin Richmond, Eureka Mayor Virginia Bass and Boating and Waterways Director Raynor Tsuneyoshi.
Currently, the building’s classrooms and conference facilities are being used for extended education classes and are available for rent to community groups and businesses. The classrooms feature large windows with views of the bay. “It’s a nice, serene learning environment,” says building supervisor Ben Duhem during a tour of the facility.
But, nobody is probably more enthused each morning about the now dedicated Humboldt Bay Aquatic Center than Coach Meiggs and her crew team. “It’s quiet on the bay when we’re there. As we glide past, you can’t help but look over and smile knowing this will be our new home. It’s incredibly exciting for the team.”