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Council mixed
on Paradise Park
purchase

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By Gordon Y.K. Pang
Star-Bulletin

City Council members John Henry Felix and Andy Mirikitani have won support from the administration of Mayor Jeremy Harris for a plan to condemn Paradise Park and its surrounding areas.

But support from colleagues is getting shaky on a Council that appears to be growing wary of the city dabbling in too many land purchases.

The result: The Council Budget Committee yesterday moved a resolution calling for the city to continue working on purchase of the site without a promise of funding for operation and maintenance.

The 152-acre site is owned by the Roman Catholic Church. It includes the 47.5-acre Paradise Park, closed since 1994 because of the poor economy.

Councilman John DeSoto said the city has purchased property elsewhere only to let it fall into misuse and should be careful about park selection.

Besides Waimea Valley Park, the Council is also mulling purchase of Royal Kunia Golf Course.

City Deputy Managing Director Malcolm Tom said the assessed value of the total acreage in Manoa is about $2.2 million.