Partners sprucing up
By Harold Morse
Waipahu playground
Star-BulletinWhile the city has been digging deep into its pockets for new playground equipment, the Waipahu area has turned to an old-fashioned way to make improvements at Honowai Neighborhood Park.
It's called getting help from the community.
A $25,000 donation from the Hawaii Medical Service Association started the effort to buy two play sets -- one for preschoolers and one for elementary students. The park equipment will fall under city jurisdiction. The funding goal is $100,000.
The effort picked up steam when the state found some public school play equipment unsafe and not meeting new federal safety standards.
The city recently announced $3 million to install new playground equipment in parks near schools because the Board of Education dramatically scaled back funding. Honowai Park was not included in the city's list, but it has other helpers.
Alicia Maluafiti, HMSA supervisor of community and government relations, said HMSA put in an adult physical center at Blaisdell Park last year and wanted to do something for kids this year.
HMSA in partnership with the Waipahu community, the city and county and Honowai Elementary is helping purchase equipment and pay for landscaping, she said.
HMSA started the Keiki Injury Prevention Coalition and found a vendor, Coast Recreation Inc., now a coalition member, to supply equipment.
Cushioned surfacing to minimize injury is part of the package. "It's really gotta be something that is safe for the children," Maluafiti said.
Park restrooms were in horrible shape with lots of graffiti, Maluafiti said. Leeward YMCA adopted the restrooms and plans to put in a mural which hopefully will deter graffiti, a mural similar to one at Sandy Beach, she said. "Somebody is adopting the water fountain. We're going to write some grants."
Matching funds will be sought for landscaping, Maluafiti said.
It's hoped the city will prepare the site and eventually maintain it, she added.
"These types of public-private partnerships are really the waves of the future" in bringing together Waipahu businesses, some community associations and key lawmakers to create a playground that's safe, Maluafiti said.
Funding coordinators are state Rep. Nestor Garcia (D-Waipahu, Crestview) and state Sen. Cal Kawamoto (D-Waipahu, Pearl City).
Garcia said play equipment is only part of the goal.
Businesses can lend a hand with equipment and supplies, Garcia said. "We're also looking for in-kind services.
"The beautiful thing about this project is you don't have to whip out your checkbook," he said. "You know when you plant grass, you need a sprinkler system, so maybe somebody can donate that, for instance," he said.
