Construction kickoff on Thursday for the covered playground at Papa'aloa Park.
Hawaii County marked the beginning of a significant renovation project on Thursday with a blessing and groundbreaking ceremony for a new covered playcourt at Papa'aloa Park. The event celebrated the start of construction to replace the park's dilapidated plantation-style gymnasium, which was demolished in May 2022 due to extensive termite damage.
According to Tom Callis, spokesperson for Mayor Kimo Alameda, the new facility will resemble a gym, but with partially open walls covered by mesh or fencing. The Department of Parks and Recreation has implemented similar covered playcourts in various parks across the county, including Pana'ewa Park, William "Billy" Kenoi District Park, and Spencer Kalani Schutte District Park.
Construction on the playcourt, expected to commence on June 2, is scheduled for completion within approximately 18 months. The original estimate for the project was $10 million, but this has since increased to $19.3 million, covering the costs of planning, design, and construction. The state has contributed $5 million to the project, with Hawaii County bearing the remaining $14.3 million.
Isemoto Contracting is overseeing the construction, and the new playcourt will boast a multi-purpose court area large enough for a full-size basketball court, as well as restrooms, storage space, and an additional multi-purpose area. The facility will also offer additional recreation opportunities such as volleyball, pickleball, futsal, martial arts, and will cater to community programs, events, and gatherings.
In addition to the covered playcourt building, the project will incorporate additional infrastructure features, including parking and landscaping, as well as indoor equipment like a portable stage and exercise mats.
Papa'aloa Park will be temporarily closed during construction, and the Elderly Activities Division's nutrition program will be relocated from the park to Pa'auilo Gym. Public water spigots at the park will remain accessible during the start of construction, but temporary unavailability may occur during certain phases of the project.
For more information on the project, please contact John Burnett at [email protected].
Residents can look forward to the new covered playcourt at Papa'aloa Park becoming a hub for various lifestyle activities within the community, such as basketball, volleyball, pickleball, futsal, martial arts, and gatherings. This home-and-garden project, which includes additional infrastructure features like parking and landscaping, will also cater to home-and-garden events and community programs.
