Waikiki resident Larry Normandin says he's frustrated that the city is thinking of closing a softball field in Kapi'olani Park that's closest to Kalakaua Avenue. But park officials say pushing play to three nearby fields may be the safest choice for the busy stretch of Waikiki.

Normandin said he belongs to a recreational baseball league that's been using the field across from the Outrigger Canoe Club and Elks Club for 12 years. "I am one of countless Waikiki residents who wish to see this issue resolved and see community baseball at Kapi'olani Park once again," he said.

But Kapi'olani regional park manager Mike Smith said those who use the field now can be shifted easily to the three nearby fields toward the park's interior.

"We only have two groups that have made reservations for this field," Smith said. "We're looking to reassign them to other fields."

He said he's already received approval from one group to switch over.

City Parks and Recreation Director Lester Chang said the area, known as Elks Field, has become a bigger safety concern as the park has gotten busier.

"The three interior softball fields are properly located among other active recreation activity/fields," Chang said. The Elks Field, he said, is "way too close" to the sidewalk/street and can be a danger to people walking, jogging, picnicking, driving by and even parked.

Chang acknowledged that no softball/baseball field is totally safe "no matter how much safety fencing there is."

He said the fields in the historic park offer a little less protection because they have no permanent backstops, relying on smaller, temporary backstops instead.

Smith said no incident caused the change in policy — just concerns about what could happen and the realization that the field doesn't meet standards for safety in its current location.

Normandin said if this field isn't safe, than neither are other fields bordering busy streets. Smith said he has been reviewing the park layouts to see if they meet standards for safety. He could not say yesterday if all the fields islandwide have been evaluated.

Reach Robbie Dingeman at rdingeman@honoluluadvertiser.com.