KAILUA — The vision that one woman had for Kailua Beach Park gave the community a legacy it will enjoy for generations.

Recently, Kailua paid tribute to former City Councilwoman and state Sen. Mary George by dedicating a park pavilion to her memory.

At one time, the Lanikai end of Kailua Beach Park was about half the size it is now, with 13 homes and a camp occupying much of the property.

George helped persuade the City Council to set money aside each year to condemn and purchase those homes, said Jane Morris of the Lani-Kailua Outdoor Circle. When the Methodist Church decided to sell Camp Kailana, the city bought that land, too.

"She had great foresight," said Morris, a longtime friend of George. "She was so aware of the future needs and so excited about this, that after she left the council and went into the state Senate she kept in touch with the council, particularly former Council member John Henry Felix, to be certain the council continued this program."

The park is one of the largest open spaces along the shoreline in Kailua. People there last week said they enjoy the peace, cleanliness and amenities such as wheelchair accessible picnic tables and a running/walking/bicycling path that circles the Lanikai side of the park.

Leane Hensley, 22, said the park was a refuge when her Marine husband was deployed, and it was a safe beach for her children, who are 2 and 3 years old.

"I was new to the Islands and this was the only place I knew," said Hensley, who was having a pizza lunch with her husband and children. "I would come here and walk the beach every day."

The park is kept clean and used by several groups, including Alcoholics Anonymous, a yoga class, the elderly, joggers and new moms who come to exercise.

Not all Kailua residents were in favor of demolishing the campground, which was used for retreats and outings by businesses, community groups and people with disabilities.

Kailua resident Ursula Retherford remembers with bitterness the day in 1995 when a bulldozer arrived at the park at 5 a.m. to tear down the camp buildings.

"I still look at it and think what a loss of an opportunity to really make something for the community," she said. "It was socially very, very regressive."

But the park is a better place now, said Karen Murata, a longtime Kailua resident who uses it for walks, relaxation and reading.

"More people have access to the park and not only those from this side of the island," Murata said.

Mary George began acquiring the land for the city more than 30 years ago, said Paula Ress of the Lani-Kailua Outdoor Circle, which fought to demolish the camp and create open space. But the city didn't have money to make the improvements for about 10 years, and allowed the camp to operate even as it slowly deteriorated.

"When you drive by there you look at it and it seems like it was always that way, but it wasn't," Ress said. "One of the big reason we do have an expanded park is Mary George had foresight."

But once the city decided to move on the project a groundswell of community support involving hundreds of people fought for five years to maintain the facility there and renovate it for use by the disabled and other groups.

They believed there was space enough for an open park and a city camp site.

The struggle did have some positive results including a park that is wheelchair accessible and a court victory requiring the city to retrofit all camping grounds to accommodate wheelchairs.

Reach Eloise Aguiar at eaguiar@honoluluadvertiser.com.