Kolekole Park closed

[DoryGray]

I know it's not in Puna, but wondered if anyone knew what was up with the closure. Article from April in Trib says lead found. It's a beautiful park & I was very disappointed on my Hamakua trip to see it closed. http://hawaiitribune-herald.com/news/loc...on-unknown

[terracore]

http://punaweb.org/forum/topic.asp?whichpage=0.733333333333333&TOPIC_ID=23458#261007

[DoryGray]

Yea,thanks, saw that, any current info?

[TomK]

"KOLEKOLE PARK CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE PENDING DEPT. OF TRANSPORTATION AREA ASSESSMENT"

https://hawaiicounty.ehawaii.gov/camping...57796.html

On Google maps, it says it's "permanently closed" but not sure I trust that, but it wouldn't surprise me if it was closer to the truth.

[alaskyn66]

They won't do anything anytime soon.. until people sue the county, and get the EPA involved.

If the ground is contaminated so then is the sea life and habitat downstream of the bridge

[terracore]

Finally reopening. No mention of lead abatement

https://bigislandnow.com/2024/04/09/kole...structure/

Kolekole Gulch Park will reopen on April 24 following the $6.3 million in upgrades to the park and its facilities.

Located within a steep gulch between the Old Māmalahoa Highway and Kolekole Stream, just mauka of the Kolekole Bridge in Kuhua (immediately north of Honomū), the 5.5-acre park has been an important community asset since at least the early 1930s, supporting swimming, picnicking, camping, gatherings and other recreational uses.

The primary aim of the project was to provide a fully accessible park in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act while also making significant upgrades to aging park infrastructure.

Major improvements include construction of a new comfort station; a new pavilion; potable water infrastructure; fire protection water system; refurbished pavilions; and new walkways, ramps, picnic tables, lighted parking areas and landscaping.

“Kolekole Gulch Park is an important point of access on the Hāmākua Coast for fishing, swimming, surfing, and overall enjoyment of the stream and ocean, activities that are vital to our culture and the well-being of local residents,” said Mayor Mitch Roth. “By enhancing accessibility for all and introducing upgraded amenities, we are securing its place as a cherished community space for generations to come.”

The Department of Parks and Recreation will host a public reopening event at park on April 24 at 10 a.m.

“Kolekole Gulch Park looks and feels entirely brand new,” said Maurice Messina, Director of Parks and Recreation. “We are excited to return this valuable resource to our community, enhanced in so many ways to allow greater access and enjoyment by all.”

The Kolekole Gulch Park project is one of several Department of Parks and Recreation construction projects underway or recently completed that enhance accessibility and ensure parks meet ADA requirements.

The park’s pavilions will be available to rent beginning April 25 by calling the Parks and Recreation Administration Office at 808-961-8311. Camping will continue to be suspended pending an upcoming State Department of Transportation project.

Kolekole Gulch Park hours are 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. The gate to the park will be locked nightly.

[punikahakaiferret]

Yaaaaay! Have missed being able to go there.

And yeah, weird no mention of lead, tho...

Mahalo for the news article, Terracore :-)

[randomq]

The squatters that used to live in the pavilion can finally move back in!

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

Yes, there’s still lead.  But it’s mostly in the soil, covered in thick grass. But the good news is the park is more accessible!

https://bigislandnow.com/2024/04/20/lead...-upgrades/

Maybe some “Keiki Keep Off The Grass” signs.

[punikahakaiferret]

Just wandered down the "road" to Hakalau a couple days ago...another potentially nice park/picnic/beach/ocean access area kept inaccessible to most due to, yep, lead from the bridge overhead. Suppose Hakalau is doomed to never be opened again? It was scary leaving our car parked by the locked gate, hoping it wouldn't get vandalized during the 2/3 mile walk down and back.

Such a shame there could be really nice areas heading up the Hamakua coast to recreate, like on Kona side, or up Kohala coast like Mahukona, or in Ka'u like Honuapo (none fancy or "modern" but still accessible and usable, and with great historic significance and relics to check out), but on this side it's apparently just easier to do nothing and let these places get overgrown and deteriorate, and only the people living in the gated communities get to have shoreline access? (Like the kerfuffle going on by Pepeekeo Sugar Mill Shoreline Access?)

Aaaaand then there's Pohoiki...

Always asking (rhetorically)...why can't we have nice things too?

Sorry to ramble...my head talking.