Beginning in June, two of the 12 ball fields at Patsy T. Mink Central Oahu Regional Park will undergo a three-month-long summer field maintenance program, according to the Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation. This came about following strong public support for proposed upkeep and operational changes of the park’s baseball and softball fields.

What You Need To Know

  • Two of the 12 ball fields will be closed for maintenance from June through August

  • Permitted use of the diamond-shaped fields for practice will begin in September

  • Permits will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis and can be submitted starting Aug. 1

The change will allow permits for practice events in September that can be submitted starting Aug. 1.

Scheduled to last through August, the closure will provide a rest period for the fields as park staffers work to aerate, weed, level, add grass and conduct other rehabilitation efforts.

The summer field maintenance program will continue for six years, starting with Adult Baseball Field 3 and Youth Baseball Field 2 in June. Its success will determine whether DPR continues or ends the program beyond 2028.

In January, DPR conducted a community survey to gauge public sentiment regarding the field maintenance program. Overall response favored the summer field maintenance program.

In the survey, users suggested the permitted use of the diamond-shaped fields for practice. DPR had previously denied practice permits giving priority to games and tournaments. However, the policy will change this summer to allow organizations to submit practice-use permit requests from August, with practices starting in September. DPR will issue permits on a first-come, first-served basis, with some fields designated for game use to maintain their condition for competition.

The 267-acre Patsy T. Mink Central Oahu Regional Park opened in 2001 and is one of the most highly used parks on Oahu year-round. It’s home to the K. Mark Takai Veterans Memorial Aquatics Center, the 20-court Jarand M. W. Iwase Tennis Complex, a 12,800-square-foot off-leash dog park (to be closed from June 7 due to vandalism), a 20-lane archery range, several playgrounds, bathrooms, and multi-purpose fields with a walking path encompassing the facilities.

Sarah Yamanaka covers events, environmental and community news for Spectrum News Hawaii. She can be reached at sarah.yamanaka@charter.com.