Playground's cost multiplies
By Suzanne Roig
Advertiser East Honolulu Writer
'AINA HAINA — The cost of giving Wailupe Valley Elementary schoolchildren a place to play has more than doubled to $785,000, but the vision team that made the project its priority for this year isn't giving up.
Advertiser library photo • Aug. 31, 2000
The project involves building a pedestrian bridge over Kulu'i Stream, a dry streambed most of the time, to a neighborhood park next door — something the school has sought for more than five years.
First-grader Landon Uchida and his Wailupe Elementary schoolmates spend recess playing on a narrow stretch of grass between buildings. There are plans to build a bridge connecting the campus to the neighborhood park.
The bridge initially was going to cost taxpayers $300,000, but that has risen to $600,000. The playground that was to cost typically about $50,000 has risen to $185,000, said Cynthia Bond, East Honolulu Vision Team coordinator.
City officials said the playground costs more because of wheelchair access requirements that necessitate paved paths leading from the street, Bond said at a recent community meeting. The bridge requires double the initial amount because many boulders must be removed and concrete walkways are needed for wheelchair access on both sides of the bridge, said Rep. Bertha Leong, R-16th ('Aina Haina, Hawai'i Kai).
"I was surprised by the (new) amount," Leong said. "But the clearing of the rocks and the wheelchair access are all added costs. I can see the costs adding up. It's great that the community is behind the project."
To accommodate the extra costs, the community vision team recently agreed to drop two other projects from its 2003 list of proposals submitted to the city. The deletions free the necessary money from the $2 million allotted to the community for vision projects. That will allow the vision team to award a contract by Dec. 31 and avoid losing the $350,000 already set aside for the project, the team's priority for the 2002 fiscal year, Bond said.
"It's really, really essential to the students that we have a playground and a place for them to run around," Leong said. "I feel so fortunate that the vision community gave up other projects for this one. It's very important to the students."
The school has no playground, just basketball courts. Because of the slope, the grounds are unsuitable for a play facility. Aside from jump-rope activity, youngsters take turns using the basketball courts — the only open space to play on.
If students want to use the park now, they have to obtain written permission from their parents because it's considered a trip off campus to walk over to the park.
Leong said that each time the school has requested a bridge, the answer has been the same: There's no money.
The first plea went out to the community and the neighborhood board, which advised the city of the need. Then students collected signatures door to door on a petition urging the city to build the bridge. They wrote letters to the city and gave speeches before the neighborhood board.
Most recently, students came again before the board and renewed their plea.
"It is so needed," Leong said of the project. "Every school has a park for students to play on. It is possible. I feel so determined about this."
While the cost estimates are being settled and the City Council hashes out the budget, the city will draft a letter of understanding stating the responsibilities of the state and city. That will clear the way for the project to begin once the money is appropriated and a contract awarded.
Reach Suzanne Roig at sroig@honoluluadvertiser.com or 395-8831.
