Closed since July of this year, the children’s playground at Kamehameha Park in Kapaʻau will reopen on Saturday featuring a newly designed playground and new synthetic turf safety surfacing system.
The community is invited to take part in the reopening and blessing at 11 a.m. on Saturday.
According to the Hawaii County Department of Parks and Recreation, the $750,000 playground meets Americans with Disabilities Act standards featuring new tactile and interactive elements, in addition to climbing structures similar to those at Gilbert Kahele Recreation Area, and various spinners and swings.
“We’re thrilled to bring a new, safe, and accessible playground to the keiki of North Kohala,” said Mayor Mitch Roth in a release. “This project reflects our commitment to creating spaces where our children can play, learn, and thrive. We’re excited to see families come together to enjoy this new addition to Kamehameha Park.”
Other improvements to the park include the addition of accessible walkways, new fencing, benches and an accessible picnic table. Hours for Kamehameha Park are 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
“Playgrounds provide enormous health benefits for keiki and also support the well-being of their families and caregivers,” said Maurice Messina, director of Parks & Recreation. "We are pleased to open this new playground, replacing an important feature at Kamehameha Park.”
Although work on the playground is complete, construction will continue in adjacent areas that will be closed and marked with signs.
