Moiliili park closures extended by 10 days
The city will extend its 24-hour closures at three Moiliili parks for an additional 10 days — until Nov. 15, parks officials announced today.
Crane Community Park, Old Stadium Park and Moiliili Community Park were shut down Sept. 5 and initially expected to reopen Monday to allow the Department of Parks and Recreation to deal with a series of maintenance issues.
The extra 10 days will let crews finish field grassing, installation of temporary irrigation systems, ballfield maintenance, fertilizing, painting over of vandalism and installation of bathroom fixtures.
All three of the parks are known hangouts for homeless individuals and families. The Caldwell administration insisted the work was routine maintenance and not being conducted specifically to boot the homeless. It acknowledged, however, that city and social service outreach workers were speaking to those camping in or near the parks about impending closures.
On Oct. 15, the city announced that Ala Wai Neighborhood Park and portions of Ala Wai Community Park, both also in the Moiliili area, also would be closed for similar maintenance projects through Dec. 26. The Ala Wai facilities were also known havens of the homeless.