Editorial: A private park for public benefit

There’s a lot of razzle-dazzle at the new Victoria Ward Park, which opened to the public this weekend at Ward Village. The park’s coolness factor is upped considerably during the holidays with the Light Garden, an impressive light field of colors through Feb. 7, plus live entertainment and The Glow Bar, offering pupu and drinks during the season.

A passive park, this is not. In fact, all this “wow” factor and headiness could almost make one lose sight of the fact that Victoria Ward Park has unveiled a new hybrid concept for urban Honolulu: a sizable privately owned park that’s built and intended for public use.

For Kakaako developer Howard Hughes Corp., this 1.5-acre park mauka of Auahi Street was a condition of state approval for its master-planned Ward Village, a community that already has three gleaming condominium towers, with two others under construction. A future phase intends to incorporate Victoria Ward Park as part of a 3-acre central plaza within the 65-acre village.

There’s a lot of buzz nowadays about public-private partnerships (P3s) to help fund and develop pricey public projects. The 20-mile rail transit. Future redevelopment of Aloha Stadium and environs. The dream revamp of the Blaisdell Center complex. And more near-term, a privately developed “world-class” public playground atop one acre of the city’s Ala Moana Regional Park.

P3s have their pros and cons — so government officials who strike deals on the public’s behalf must be ever-mindful that public benefits stay strong. The community appreciates innovative experiences, of course — but at the same time, free and fair access must remain robust, especially when it comes to promised public spaces like parks.