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+--- Thread: Parks and Recreation spends more $$ in Hilo (/showthread.php?tid=356)
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Parks and Recreation spends more $$ in Hilo - Rob Tucker - 05-02-2008
Another example of how Pat Englehardt (P&R director) has money to spend in Hilo and Puna gets the shaft. Gonna be glad when she is out of that department. Very tempted to go to this meeting and make a couple comments......
from the county newsletter.....
Reed’s Bay Beach Park Redevelopment – Open House Meeting May 5
The community is cordially invited to an Open-House presentation on Monday, May 5 on the Reed’s Bay Beach Park Redevelopment and Improvements Project. The County of Hawai‘i, Department of Parks and Recreation (P&R) is planning to enlarge and enhance Reed’s Bay Beach Park on Banyan Drive in Hilo.
WHEN: Monday, May 5, from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm
WHERE: Aupuni Center Conference Room, 101 Pauahi Street, Hilo
This presentation will feature large-scale illustrations of the existing park site and two alternative plans.
You will have the opportunity to comment on the project to team members, and if you desire, to vote for one of the alternative plans.
P&R will take these comments and votes into strong consideration as it moves forward with the project.
For more information, please contact Leonard Bisel Associates at 969-9533.
RE: Parks and Recreation spends more $$ in Hilo - Greg - 05-02-2008
This project is part of the county's focus on visitors. I guess they are percieved as having more money to spend than residents.
P&R wants an attractive walkway of connected parks from the harbor to downtown. They would like to have this completed in time for the Cruise Ship boom. (OOPS)
Unfortunatly, local activities such as outrigger Canoe Paddling, may have to sacrifice space for the increase in cruise ship visitors. (OOPS)
RE: Parks and Recreation spends more $$ in Hilo - Rob Tucker - 05-02-2008
Intersting points.
Want to go to the meeting with me? I feel like poking at them a bit.
RE: Parks and Recreation spends more $$ in Hilo - missydog1 - 05-04-2008
I too see this as a response to the criticism that Hilo has poor infrastructure for tourists, because it's near the hotels and the cruise ship dock. Naniloa is undergoing a multi million dollar renovation, so it makes sense there's some pressure to make it nicer down there.
Compared to Kona, where passengers arrive at the pier, the Hilo port is downright unwelcoming.
Yes, I know it's a bit late in coming given all the cruiseline cancellations, but when the ships were here that was something people wished for, the interconnecting path to walk from the port to downtown.
I don't see it as a move to slight Puna, but a move to bring more visitors to East Hawai'i to spend their money here. But more power to you Rob if you can get some attention to Puna's needs!
RE: Parks and Recreation spends more $$ in Hilo - gtill - 05-04-2008
How will this path interfere with paddlers? If so, it shouldn't, but I kind of like the idea of spending on projects that will help commerce!
A path like this would be an excellent application for the use of the acrylic road binding product being used in O'Land! Pour simple curbing, a varigated compacted base and topped with 2-3" of black sand and the liquid, compact, Pau! Also better used near the ocean, as is cleaner than bitumul!
RE: Parks and Recreation spends more $$ in Hilo - Rob Tucker - 05-04-2008
I have limited hopes with the current administration. The director and deputy director at P&R (Englehardt and Mizuno) have been rather patronizing about Puna. Mainstreet Pahoa Assoc. and Pahoa Village in general got screwed rather thoroughly by P&R. Gary Safarik played his role in that too. I hope he doesn't run for council again.
One thing we are doing is talking to the mayoral candidates about who we DO NOT want to see running Parks & Rec. We want some new faces and, hopefully, some say on who that might be.
RE: Parks and Recreation spends more $$ in Hilo - Pilgrim - 05-04-2008
There are other issues here that I also see playing out in Puna. Reed's Bay is a very popular place for local families to back their cars and trucks right up to the water and fish, share food etc. I can see the argument that if parking were pushed back then the beach would be more useable - but to me, it does seem to be another attempt by the County to "clean up" some of the local vibe and make a pleasant place for tourists to stroll. A while ago I heard something about an alternate boat launch across the way across the ice pond, but I think that by limiting parking at Reed's Bay, it pretty much will put the breaks on local style picnicking there. I think it's similar to what's happening at Pohoiki, in that improvements are being made without really considering the many residents who already use this place. Maybe some of it is just an unintentional by-product of "progress" and nothing else. I think most of us would want our parks to be safe and clean. I just can't help feeling that part of the County's agenda is to sanitize away what makes this place so unique for the sake of tourist dollars and disenfranchise local folks in the process. Sorry I can't make it to the meeting because I bet it will be interesting.
RE: Parks and Recreation spends more $$ in Hilo - rusty h - 05-04-2008
what things are needed for the puna area? what would be the top 5?
improvements in the state parks is one i would like to see. better and safer campgrounds, and parks to take your children to to play with others come to mine as well.
i didnt see any basketball courts, baseball or soccer fields in the puna area. maybe i misssed them.
peace
RE: Parks and Recreation spends more $$ in Hilo - Greg - 05-04-2008
Quote:
"How will this path interfere with paddlers?" - gtill
_________________________________________________________________
For decades the County of Hawaii had abandoned the bayfront area to junkies and criminals. It was the East Hawaii canoe clubs that cleaned it up, policed it, and made it a viable recreational area. ( All with minimal/no support from the County).
All this time the Hilo clubs have shared this spot with visitors and local residents alike. Most of the clubs sponsor keiki paddling programs that range from pre school to high school.
Now that the canoe clubs have resurected this once trashy beach, the county would like to limit access to them in favor of Japanese and cruise ship visitors. (It doesn't matter if it's too late, once the machine gets rolling it's hard to stop)
Canoe paddling is the official state sport of Hawaii, with over 1500 paddlers of all ages here on the Big Island alone. The use of Bayfront for outrigger canoe paddling is mandated by the state.
The Paddlers of East Hawaii for a large part resent the years of neglect by the county, only to have them suddenly treat it as their (the county's) Kuleana after the clubs fixed it up and regulate it on their own.
By the way, the paddling season is gearing up now. Check out a Hilo (or Kona) Canoe club. Stop by any afternoon for information. There are
crews for everyone from novice to expert, and from under 10 to over 60. The dues are generally much lower than a health club, and paddling will add years to your life. The cultural and social aspect are also hard to beat.
RE: Parks and Recreation spends more $$ in Hilo - gtill - 05-04-2008
Greg, I'm glad I asked, I saw the club section during our last visit, and was glad to see so much club participation in one spot! What an opportunity to allow the few tourists who will come through to get near a canoe "village". Now how is it that these torists are going to run out, or inconvenience the paddlers? Do the clubs all have corporate sponsors or do they all rely on fund raisers and local doations? That's a long walk to Hilo town, how about a few coconut leaf covered picnic tables for a midway break area, and sell em a piece of driftwood with the club logo for 10$. Might seem awful capitalistic, but it beats begging, which fundraisers are!
There is no way the few tourists comng through the area is going to hurt the paddlers! If they do, they let it happen!