CUNA: restoring Carlson Park and beautifying Valley West

by Ruby Cayenne

On Thursday, April 6, State Senator Mike McGuire joined Arcata City Council members and Comunidad Unida Del Norte De Arcata (CUNA) co-coordinators to give $1 million for the development of Carlson Park in Valley West. In total, the park has been endowed with $2.5 million in funding for restoration. Other grants came from the Wildlife Conservation Board and Rural Recreation and Tourism.

CUNA has been a vital motivator of this project, by adopting the park, holding clean-ups and continually advocating for it to the City of Arcata. CUNA is deeply involved with the beautification of the entire North Arcata area since its formation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The grants funding the Carlson Park restoration will be used to build a playground, a picnic area, and a special events area. Improving river access and trails will allow for boating and swimming in the Mad River. The park will also have public restrooms, pickleball, and multi-use courts.

“Redwood Coast Energy Authority will be collaborating for EV charging stations at a planned parking lot,” said Emily Sinkhorn, Director of Environmental Services.

CUNA is co-coordinated by three women who have been living or serving in the community of Valley West for decades. Kimberly White is an Arcata City Council member and graduate of Cal Poly Humboldt. Eibar Romero is currently studying Critical Race, Gender and Sexuality Studies at CPH. Laura Muñoz is a “bilingual dance and theater maker, educator, somatics practitioner, and community organizer,” according to the CUNA website.

“They're [the City of Arcata] going to be doing bilingual signage on the trails in Spanish, English, and Wiyot language, invasive species removal, and planting native species. There's going to be an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant lookout. So, those who cannot make it down the trails are going to get this incredible view of our wonderful Mad River right there,” White said.

I'm excited about the opportunities to really build community and hopefully also bridge the different demographics,” Muñoz said. “It's not a moment too soon that Carlson Park is going to be available for families, for kids, for recreation, and really to work for a better way of living like kids playing outside and being outdoors.”

In the Valley West community, CUNA has incorporated the participatory budgeting process into its work by speaking with a wide range of demographics in the community including the elderly, Latinx and unhoused. These conversations brought attention to the fact that there was less of a desire for grand gestures and more for securing essential services. “They were not thinking big. They were just like we need police out here. We need a garbage can.

You know, just the basics,” White said. Not only did CUNA provide those basics to Valley West, but they were also able to secure barbecue facilities that are ADA compliant, plant fruit trees, have dance classes and have children's theater. They have organized and facilitated tianguis, a Latinx style open-air market and block parties for disaster preparedness and community building.

This showcased local mariachi bands and artists and intent on developing a community garden, reported CUNA co-coordinators.

“Valley West hasn't received a lot of attention years back, so it's super awesome and I think it makes the Latinx community feel heard or seen that there is going to be attention to that community where they live,” Romero said.