Officials with Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s administration have agreed to attend a meeting tonight hosted by groups that have raised concerns about planned improvements at popular Ala Moana Regional Park.
The meeting runs from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Ala Moana Park’s McCoy Pavilion. Among those scheduled to take part in a panel discussion are interim Councilman Mike Formby, Council Chairwoman Ann Kobayashi and city Department of Design and Construction Director Robert Kroning.
Other city officials are expected to be in the audience.
The gathering is hosted by the Save Ala Moana Beach Park Hui, Friends of Kewalos, the Greater Waikiki branch of the Outdoor Circle, Malama Moana and others concerned about the park’s future.
The latest issue raised involves a second draft environmental impact statement on the city’s master plan, a draft that came out Feb. 8. Public responses are due by March 25.
Organizers of tonight’s meeting criticize the administration for not holding a public meeting to discuss the latest plans, which include a “one-acre world class playground” and sand nourishment.
They point out that the draft includes plans to make improvements to two makai-side shared-use paths, among the key objections from park regulars opposed to the plan.
In December the City Council adopted Ordinance 18-46, which became law without Caldwell’s signature. It states that no improvements can be made along the makai side of Ala Moana Park Drive that would result in the widening of existing walkways or the reduction of grassy areas.
A city Parks and Recreation spokesman said in January that the administration is still evaluating how the ordinance would affect the draft environmental document or the master plan, both of which were completed before the ordinance.
City officials said the wider walkway would make it safer for pedestrians and other park users. The plan also included a reconfigured parking plan that officials said would create more stalls for users.
Shar Chun-Lum, a park regular and a member of Save Ala Moana Beach Park, said her group is gathering signatures on a petition that opposes widening existing walkways and shared-use paths, dog parks, mauka- side perpendicular-parking stalls and replenishing the beach with sand from outside the area, as well as any plans to reduce grassy areas.
Comments on the proposed plan can be sent to alamoanaeis@bchdesign.com.
Correction: Mayor Kirk Caldwell will not be attending tonight’s meeting on Ala Moana Beach Park. Also comments on the proposed plan can be emailed to alamoanaeis@bchdesign.com. An earlier version of this story and in Monday’s print edition said Caldwell would be attending and had an incorrect email address.
