Deadline for views on 7 park closings
By Gordon Y.K. Pang
Advertiser West O'ahu Writer
'Ewa residents wishing to have a say regarding a proposal to close seven area city parks at night must submit their opinions in writing to the 'Ewa Neighborhood Board by the time the panel's parks subcommittee meets May 3, Chairman Kurt Fevella said.
That means the issue won't be on the agenda of tonight's full neighborhood board meeting as many had expected.
The board's 8-1 vote in February to recommend that the city Department of Parks and Recreation close all seven parks in the region from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. daily has touched off a debate in the 'Ewa community.
Residents living near several of the parks say it is necessary to crack down on drinking, drug use and other criminal activity after dark, a position supported by the police. But regular park users say the proposal is draconian and will drastically cut down legitimate uses, from fishing and surfing to pickup basketball and tennis lessons.
City Parks Director Lester Chang said he would consider the recommendations of the board, but also asked Fevella to have the board take a second look at each of the parks individually.
Fevella said he's doing that, but he only wants people to send letters and e-mails. Board members decided against carving out time for the issue at tonight's meeting because they felt it would be unproductive. Fevella abruptly adjourned last month's board meeting, with half of the agenda completed, when several people in the audience demanded that he let them speak on the parks-closure issue immediately.
Fevella said that after months of discussion at board and parks committee meetings, he and other board members are not ready to entertain the idea of any of the parks remaining open 24 hours.
"We had that (discussion) already," Fevella said. "Right now, all we need is adjusting the times."
Testimony can be submitted to nco@honolulu.gov by 4:30 p.m. May 3. Or it can be mailed to the 'Ewa Neighborhood Board, c/o the Neighborhood Commission, Room 400, Honolulu Hale, 530 S. King St., Honolulu, 96813.
Reach Gordon Y.K. Pang at gpang@honoluluadvertiser.com.
