A County Council member is pushing to replace Honomu Park’s decades-old playground with a half-million dollars in new equipment.
Valerie Poindexter, council vice chairwoman, is proposing a $500,000 appropriation in capital improvement funds to replace Honomu’s current setup with new Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant equipment and safety flooring.
The proposed bill, which would amend an ordinance relating to public improvements and financing for the current fiscal year, was approved Tuesday by the council’s Finance Committee. It goes up for vote at the council’s Jan. 22 meeting. It needs majority approval to pass.
The $500,000 would fund special equipment that’s up to par with ADA standards so that “all children can enjoy, including those who are disabled,” Poindexter said. It also would fund flooring and include some wiggle room should construction costs rise by the time the project is started.
Poindexter said she first saw the need to improve the playground after visiting Honomu’s newly renovated gymnasium in December. During that visit, she watched clusters of children crawl throughout the small, aging play structure next door.
“The equipment there is really, really old,” Poindexter said. “The ground, we need to get covered for the safety of the children. It’s not just the playground equipment, I think what costs the most is the ground cover itself for if kids fall. The type of surface they use is very expensive but that has to be put in.”
Poindexter, whose council district includes South Hilo, North Hilo, Hamakua and a portion of Waimea, is proposing an interactive design similar to what was installed at the new Mauna Kea Recreation Area this past summer.
The 3,700-square-foot Mauna Kea project was designed for keiki 5-12 years old and features ropes, rails and ladders.
The Honomu proposal would fall into line with the county’s ongoing goal to “build healthier communities,” Poindexter said.
Honomu’s gymnasium received a $260,500 upgrade last month and now features a new roof, renovated floor and freshly painted walls. Honokaa also got a new playground in 2014 which Poindexter said is heavily used.
Should the council OK the proposal, a construction start date would be determined by the administration, Poindexter said.
“I would think this is a priority because of health and safety issues,” she said. “The mayor has been committed to building these community gathering places for rural communities.”
