The cost of a popular city tennis center that opened more than four years ago continues to climb because the project was poorly managed and rushed, according to an audit to be released today.

The 20-court complex is part of the massive Central O'ahu Regional Park, one of former Mayor Jeremy Harris' grandest — and most controversial — civic improvement projects.

The final price of building the tennis center is likely to be at least $2.5 million more than the city's original $9.5 million contract, and well over an initial $7.5 million estimate, according to a copy of the audit obtained by The Advertiser.

The project could ultimately cost more than $13.7 million, auditors found.

But the final cost is not yet clear because the city has yet to close a major construction contract and release a final payment, the report by city auditor Leslie Tanaka says.

Officials inappropriately transferred money from other projects to cover the tennis work, violated internal financial policies, and could not provide records to justify payments totaling more than $2.2 million, according to the report.

Eugene Lee, director of the Department of Design and Construction, said he generally agrees with the audit's recommendations to tighten up planning and cost-control policies.

"We're taking appropriate actions," he said.

Lee did not directly address many of the audit's findings in his written response attached to it, but outlined the project's history.

Harris' administration had called on officials "to complete the project within an accelerated time period," Lee wrote.

Officials made their "best efforts to proceed within the applicable policy and procedural guidelines and laws to complete the project," according to Lee.

All city departments "continually strive to comply with all applicable policies, procedures and laws," and will consider implementing new safeguards recommended by the audit, Lee wrote.

A POPULAR FACILITY

Problems with the tennis complex and other projects at the 269-acre park drew much criticism and scrutiny during Harris' last term, which ended in early 2005.

But the $65 million-plus park, beside Kamehameha Highway near Ka Uka Boulevard and Waipi'o Gentry, proved immensely popular with many families, despite the controversy.

Tom Sugita, city tennis advisory council chairman, said the complex is heavily used, especially on weekends.

But he said the facility has many problems: Net posts are bending and rusting, some gates open in the wrong direction, benches are small and flimsy, poorly located shower trees continually dump debris on courts, and landscaping is poorly maintained.

Sugita researched problems with the park project for years, and continually pushed for an investigation. He said he looked forward to seeing the audit today.

City officials "stalled and stalled" when he would request public documents and other information related to the park during Harris' tenure, Sugita said.

"When they do that, it tells me something is wrong," he said. "At least Mayor Hannemann, who inherited this whole costly mess, gave me some figures."

During construction, plans for the tennis complex and some other park projects were continually revised, then the project was plagued by delays as design alterations and building work clashed.

'STARTED TO BACKFIRE'

A former park project manager publicly charged in 2002 that work was being rushed to promote Harris' plan to run for governor, and that she was removed from the job after complaining that shoddy work was costing hundreds of thousands of dollars. Officials shrugged off the accusations then.

Sugita said he believed the park could have turned out much better if it had been been managed properly.

"Harris was pushing to open it up early, but everything started to backfire, and it blew up in his face," Sugita said.

Harris denied for years that any of his high-profile projects were rushed for political purposes, and said he was very proud of the park because it will be enjoyed by the public for generations.

But projects stumbled forward amid an atmosphere of secrecy at City Hall, as a massive criminal investigation of illegal donations to Harris' campaign committee also plowed ahead.

City Council members and others repeatedly asked for details about the park, and accused Harris administration officials of stonewalling.

CAMPAIGN SCANDAL

Meanwhile, dozens of city contractors and others were fined for improperly funneling hundreds of thousands of dollars to Harris' campaign. A few pleaded no contest to criminal charges, but none served more than a few days in jail.

The president of a major park contractor that helped design and manage the tennis project, SSFM International, was placed on a form of probation in 2003 for illegally steering nearly $140,000 into Harris' campaign coffers.

Michael Matsumoto admitted giving the money to relatives and co-workers, who in turn gave it to the campaign or to others who then made the donations.

Harris was never charged with wrongdoing in the scandal, and always maintained he knew nothing of the illegal donations. But they helped wreck his political future, and he spent much of his final year as mayor on speaking engagements away from Hawai'i.

Reach Johnny Brannon at jbrannon@honoluluadvertiser.com.