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More funding sought for upkeep of parks
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Posted on Jul 24 2000
Limited resources have pushed the Division of Parks and Recreation to get innovative with funding for park improvements aimed at protecting both patrons and facilities.
According to Director Anthony Benavente, while Parks and Recreation is working under a $45,000 operations budget, they’ve found ways to make significant cuts in areas like the high cost of playground replacement parts.
“We have the necessary equipment, so we save money by purchasing the material and fabricating our own parts instead of ordering from Hawaii or the States,” said Mr. Benavente. “We’ve also had private businesses that not only donate park equipment, but also hire and pay for contractors to repair them.”
Some of the projects funded by private contributions include the Paupau Beach Park Picnic Shelter, the Marine Beach Park Picnic Shelter and restroom facilities, and the recently renovated Susupe Regional Park Playground.
At the same time, Parks and Recreation has also begun replacing steel barbecue pits with concrete ones, beginning at Kilili Beach Park.
“Heat and corrosion have damaged some of the existing pits and made them unsafe, so we have begun replacing them with concrete ones,” said Mr. Benavente. “Fortunately, we’ve been allowed to reprogram a limited amount of money into our operations budget for these types of projects, and we hope to have all new pits at Kilili by the end of August.”
The Division is also appealing for assistance from the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation for 10 short-arm streetlights to keep pavilions lit at night.
“It’s a matter of security for both the pavilion users and the facilities,” Mr. Benavente said. “Patrolling police officers should have a clear view of the activities happening in our parks at night.”
Parks and Recreation is seeking an increase in operations funding for FY 2001 to $96,900.
