Feedback on Kapalama park sought at meeting

City officials are seeking input on preliminary designs for a park and other improvements along the Kapalama Canal as part of transit-oriented development efforts.

Harrison Rue, the city’s transit-oriented development administrator, said initial designs for what is described as a “linear” park — which would run along the canal banks and Kohou and Kokea streets, from the mouth of the canal at Nimitz Highway to just mauka of the H-1 freeway — include pedestrian bridges across the canal and bicycle and pedestrian trails.

Other design features call for terraces closer to the water for fishing, pavilions for parties and gatherings, picnic areas, and other open space for playgrounds, exercise classes, performances and recreational activities.

The city Department of Planning and Permitting plans to unveil the initial designs and gather feedback at a community workshop at 6 p.m. today at the Farrington High School cafeteria, 1564 N. King St. At the meeting, residents can see renderings and graphics of how the canal’s banks could be developed.

DPP held a workshop in September to gather ideas of what residents and other interested parties wanted to see in the area, which were used to create the initial designs.

“We’re excited from what we’ve heard from the community,” Rue said. “The Kapalama Canal improvements have been something that has been desired by the community for decades. It’s not a new thing.”

The city has a $750,000 contract with WCIT Architecture for preliminary planning, a design and an environmental impact statement. Additionally, Rue said the planning department has allocated $1.5 million in its capital-improvements budget for design, engineering and permitting; $25 million for construction; and $10 million for dredging and bank stabilization. He said it is a possibility that nearby developers could build additional park features.

Rue said planning efforts and an environmental impact statement should be completed by the end of this year. But construction will not start for a couple of years, he said.

Kalihi-Palama leaders have discussed the idea of a park along the canal for decades. Rue said it is a good time to work on the plan as the Kapalama rail station is planned for the Honolulu Community College side of the Kokea Street-Dillingham Boulevard intersection.

But several years ago an influx of homeless people began camping along the canal, prompting the city to install a fence around the banks, which pushed the homeless elsewhere.

City Councilman Joey Manahan, who represents the area, said the project would beautify the area as well as address infrastructure and flooding concerns. He added that nearby businesses could benefit from more foot traffic.

“We see it as an opportunity to really revitalize the area,” Manahan said. “It’s (the canal) always been seen as kind of a center point for the area because of the water feature. A vision for it after all these years … was that it should continue to be a gathering place.”

But longtime Kalihi resident Donald Guerrero questioned how the final plan would look and raised concerns over adding more congestion to the area.

“Those streets are used regularly,” said Guerrero, vice chairman of the Kalihi-Palama Neighborhood Board. “As it stands now it’s just a canal with a fence around it. It’s (the park idea) very ambitious.”

For more information, visit connecthonolulu.com.