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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted on: Sunday, February 27, 2005

EDITORIAL
Park drinking plan is not the answer

The word is out: One way or another, users and perhaps spectators will soon be paying more to use at least some of Honolulu's major public recreational facilities.

That was one of the points made by Mayor Mufi Hannemann in his State of the City address Thursday. User fees, including admission fees for some sports tournaments, are on their way.

Most of our recreational facilities, including municipal golf courses, which already charge fees, struggle to pay their own way. Rather than shifting tax resources away from other, arguably more basic, city needs, officials are searching for new ways of raising cash.

One proposal that appears to raise more problems than it solves is a plan to allow private contractors to sell alcohol at three city parks that host numerous spectator events: Hans L'Orange Park (a baseball field), Central O'ahu Regional Park and Waipi'o Soccer Complex.

The idea was that in exchange for rights to sell alcohol at events, private contractors would take over management and maintenance of the parks.

Bad idea.

We sympathize with the need for innovative sources of revenue, but selling alcohol at parks that are heavily geared toward family-oriented events such as youth sports and youth leagues sends the wrong message.

It could be argued that alcohol sales could be limited to specific events geared toward adults, such as professional or semi-pro sporting events. But that would hardly solve the overall budget problems facing the parks department. And the problems associated with alcohol at sporting events would prove to be more trouble than they are worth.

We understand the reality. People do, and will continue to, drink in public parks and at public sports events — even when it's prohibited.

The point is whether the city should sanction this practice in what is likely to be an unsatisfactory solution to its money problems. We say no.