Eureka! We Found New and Improved Recreation and Athletic Facilities!

Submitted by Sarah Rivers, Recreation Assistant Events and Marketing | Eureka Parks & Recreation

Extensive improvements at the Timbers of Eureka Recreation Center and the ballfields in Legion and Lions parks kept the City of Eureka staff busy this year! Brand new turf fields were placed at Legion and Lions Parks, allowing games and practices to partially commence in March and fully return in July. In August, improvements officially wrapped up at The Timbers of Eureka Recreation Facility after roughly four months of renovation.

With the demand for turf fields rising for recreational, competitive, and leisurely uses, it was an easy decision to transform Eureka’s seven dirt and grass fields at Legion and Lions Parks into turf fields. Bombshell Construction was given the bid to complete the new ballfields. The extensive work on this project and a few hiccups eventually manifested in seven beautiful turf fields that have become a popular attraction for Eureka. The field

improvements have brought in Play9 Sports Tournament Company to host baseball and softball games almost every weekend from March through July. Every weekend, thousands of new visitors to Eureka make the city hustle and bustle, with people exploring the town and visiting local businesses. Throughout the field project, work also started just down the street at the recreation center.

The Timbers of Eureka, built in 2013, celebrated its 10th anniversary last year. Despite no significant upgrades since opening, the facility has stayed in fantastic shape, but it was time for a change! Improvement to The Timbers began in April 2024 when Bombshell Construction was again given the bid to complete this extensive project over the next four months.

A new permanent wall was installed to separate the two meeting spaces, and one side was transformed into a cardio room with new flooring, fans, paint, televisions, and equipment. The men’s and women's locker rooms and family restrooms received new flooring, paint, fixtures, and updated plumbing and showers, giving the areas a clean and fresh look.

The party room received a fresh coat of paint and new flooring just before pool party season,

making it more welcoming and aesthetically pleasing. Finally, the fitness and strength area received a complete renovation with new flooring, fans, paint, mirrors, and fitness equipment. Members anxiously awaited the completion of these projects, and there has been nothing but positive feedback since their completion.

During this process, the biggest goal was to keep members updated and maintain communication with the community about the improvements and tentative timelines – hence creating the "The Timbers Improvements" social media and communication campaign. The Timbers Improvements campaign involved a handful of social media posts throughout the process, keeping followers updated on when projects were completed and the steps being taken. Members also received emails with updates and the option to pause their membership while improvements took place. The constant communication and updates resulted in a successful improvement process and a smooth completion. The Timbers’ staff has received numerous compliments from members and guests and has project joined the Legion and Lions Parks Ballfields as another success.

Eureka prides itself on its community and bringing people together. The goal of these projects was to do just that! The new ballfields have given teams and families a place to practice and play on state-of-the-art fields, and The Timbers improvements have provided members and guests with a safe, clean, and upgraded place to exercise and enjoy. These projects could not have been possible without the support of the Eureka community, and there is still more to come for the growing city!