Parks need help, but bill to allow it is complicated

We can all agree that city parks and facilities need help, right? There are parks where the weeds growing through the cracks in the parking lot are thicker than the grass on the playing field. There are bathrooms that should be condemned and playground equipment that is warped and jagged.

And most people don’t want to be taxed even more by the city to pay for nicer swings or water fountains that don’t grow limu, yes?

OK, so after that it’s harder to agree on how to do what needs to be done.

Bill 78, being considered by the Honolulu City Council today, puts forward a plan to allow private sponsorship of city parks and facilities. Where things start to get complicated is in the definition of “sponsorship.” It’s not like “adopt a park” or “make a donation,” where the money or service is given for the benefit of the park-going public without regard for public acknowledgement or thanks. A sponsor is not a donor or a volunteer or an anonymous, altruistic friend to all. A sponsor gets something in return.

From the bill:

“Sponsorship” means a mutually beneficial arrangement between the city and a person, wherein the person provides a financial contribution to the city in return for sponsor recognition on or in connection with one or more city assets, for a specified period of time.”

While this isn’t necessarily bad, it is a close cousin to buying advertising, which is fraught with complications. It’s a slippery slope from a sign on a park bench with the name of the company that paid for it to having every curb and corner be “sponsored” like Times Square or the Super Bowl. This is what has the Outdoor Circle upset, despite assurances written into the bill that it wouldn’t become “this tree brought to you by your-company-name-here.”

But to make the proposal even more layered and nuanced, consider that among the documents attached to the bill is a statement of disclosure of personal or private interest by Council member Ikaika Anderson. You know how those usually go: Somebody in elected office sits on the board of a bank, and they have to promise that six-figure paycheck won’t affect their responsibilities to the public (ahem, Kirk …).

But this one. So different:

“Make A Wish is working to establish a playground for disabled children which is a wish requested by the family of one of my staff members. This bill may aid in the funding of the aforementioned playground facility.”

Aw, man.

Also among the documents is a PDF of various signs and plaques around town posted by Kymberly Pine, one of the bill’s sponsors, which includes a plaque at a heiau put up by … the Outdoor Circle.

Aw, man.

And you thought health care was complicated. Try fixing county facilities on an island in the Pacific. Maybe the city can just apply for federal funds to fix the parks.

Oh, wait. Ben Cayetano might complain to Trump.

Aw, man.

Reach Lee Cataluna at 529-4315 or lcataluna@staradvertiser.com.