The Boundless Playground at Keopuolani Park will be the first barrier-free playground in the state on which children with and without disabilities can develop essential skills for life as they learn together in play, said Karla Peters, project manager with the Department of Parks and Recreation.

The playground, being constructed on a 1-acre site at the Kahului park, was a dream of the late Masaru "Pundy" Yokouchi and a community group, Pa Paani.

Yokouchi, 81, was a real-estate developer, patron of the arts and philanthropist, who died Nov. 30, 2006.

"He liked the concept of (children of) all abilities to be able to play together," said Peters.

"This was one thing that was very important to him," said Yokouchi's daughter Miki. "My family wants to be sure everything is done. This project has gone such a long way. There are so many people to thank."

Yokouchi had the support of unions, businesses and the county to put the playground together. The county has put up $800,000 for the playground. Pa Paani assisted with some of the park's design and planning. The rest is being done by volunteers.

"I think the project is a very good idea, especially for our youngsters today, they have no place to go," said George Aikala, a business agent with the Laborers Union Local 368, whose members have worked on the project.

Aikala said the playground is a welcome addition to the park that has many sports fields. Younger children waiting for siblings playing with their soccer and ball teams at the park can be occupied at the new playground.

"I believe it's something great Maui is doing."

In addition to Aikala's laborers, union members who have participated and donated their services include carpenters, operating engineers, roofers, painters, masons, plumbers and electricians. The Maui Community Correctional Center Work Line program and its staff have also worked on the project, along with the county's construction maintenance crew.

Bruce U'u, an apprenticeship coordinator with the Hawaii Carpenters Union on Maui, was working on the project Friday.

While the park project is good for the community, it also has provided an opportunity for volunteer work by apprentices working with the Carpenters and the Masons unions, he said.

Ricky Tamashiro, a coordinator of the mason's apprenticeship programs, said that unlike other apprentice projects, "we no need put it up and break 'um down."

"The apprentices enjoy doing this because of the pride they get out of it," he said.

Work on the site began in May 2006, and so far, the union and community volunteers have cleared and graded the site, put up various playground equipment for toddlers and older children, installed security lighting and erected two picnic pavilions.

Work yet to be done includes the installation of rubberized surfaces, sidewalks, landscaping and the completion of an entry-way pavilion. The playground will also include swings, an area for puppet shows and a "volcano" for keiki to climb.

The playground will have security lighting, but not lighting for nighttime play as the playground will close at 7 p.m., Peters said. When completed, the playground will exceed the standards of Boundless Playgrounds, the nonprofit organization that assists communities to create barrier-free playgrounds for children with a range of abilities. The playground is also accessible to children using wheelchairs and there are elevated sand tables and activity panels where children of all abilities can play together.

Miki Yokouchi said her father learned about the Boundless Playgrounds program after reading an article in Time magazine. Being the philanthropist that he was, he wanted to develop such a playground on Maui.

"My father could see that to be so important," she said.

She added that her family is thankful for the many people involved that have donated their time, money, energy and refreshments.

The Yokouchis and their friends have also volunteered their time and provided workers with refreshments.

"It was an honor to start the project and meet with Pundy," said Tamashiro. "That was a big loss when he passed."

"We kind of thinking what we going name this place," he said.

He suggests, "Pundyland."