Maui Parks and Recreation officials yesterday announced plans for a Saturday reopening of Baldwin Beach Park, which was damaged by high surf last week.

"Were doing whatever we can to make it happen," Zachary Helm, deputy parks director, said in a news release.

Helm added, "The parking lot is still flooded, and there will be portions of the park that will be coned off or closed with caution signs, but at least the public will be able to access the beach by parking along the driveway."

Officials plan to set up portable toilets for public use since the building that houses the men's and women's restrooms and the park's ocean safety headquarters was damaged by high surf last week.

The picnic pavilion, which also sustained damage when waves filled the open-air building with sand and washed water into the electrical room, will remain closed. Both buildings were shifted slightly off their foundation by the waves. A civil engineer has been hired to assess the two buildings to determine whether they are safe for use.

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