Oahu parks in danger

Editor:

Could your favorite park be at risk? The city charter states that city powers shall be used to serve and advance the general welfare, happiness and aspirations of its inhabitants. The mission of the city Department of Parks and Recreation is to enhance the leisure lifestyle and quality of life through recreational opportunities. Preservation land such as parks provide for open space and recreation.

So why is there ongoing discussion at Honolulu Hale to first close and second sell 3.5 acres of prime coastal park known as Haleiwa Beach Park Mauka? And which neighborhood will lose a park next? When will the next park closure and sale take place?

Haleiwa Beach Park on Oahu’s North Shore is a highly used and prized recreation area. For more than 20 years, a large portion of this important park adjacent to Jameson’s restaurant in Haleiwa Town has been in continual use by a variety of users including canoe clubs, community residents and visitors from around the world. In fact, this park is highlighted in our recently approved 2011 North Shore Sustainable Communities Plan as an important asset for the community that can assist in filling the existing shortage of parks in our region.

In the last year and a half the community has undertaken a monumental and successful effort through a city-approved Adopt-A-Park program to improve the park to make this area even more accessible and usable for the community.

Therefore, people island-wide support the protection and continued park usage of Haleiwa Beach Park in its entirety, including the approximately 3.5 acres on the mauka side of Kamehameha Highway for the benefit of present and future generations. Elected officials should reject any proposed sale of this park land, and officials should support the community’s effort to keep this important park open for the benefit of the public.

Larry McElheny
North Shore

Elizabeth Reilly
Hawaii Kai