Column: Ala Moana playground welcomes all

A playground designed for all children, proposed within Ala Moana Beach Park, has been in the news recently. Often left out of the story are the 1 in 7 children on Oahu who have limited or no access to a playground because of a difference in ability.

Our community can change that — and without taxpayer money.

Pa‘ani Kakou, a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit, recognizes that many children cannot play in the water, sand or open spaces, even while their family members and friends can and often do. Even Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) laws do not automatically make playgrounds accessible to all children.

Hawaii’s first inclusive playground will be free and available to all.

The project evolved from an early attempt several years ago to grant the wish of a big-hearted boy named Davin, who envisioned an inclusive playground for his community. The project was revived a couple years ago after the City and County of Honolulu identified a site within Ala Moana Beach Park.

Once we had a design reflecting the ideas of local children, it was presented to the Ala Moana Neighborhood Board, which approved it.

The proposed site selected by the city covers 1% of the 119-acre park and is located in an underutilized spot, behind a concession, public restrooms and exercise equipment near Magic Island.

Designed with input from local children, Nainoa Thompson and recognized cultural descendants, the playground will be built using donations from the community and ultimately gifted back to the city. Playground equipment selected by our student designers includes a variety of swings, interesting slides, a splash pad and, yes, miniature ziplines that run from pole to pole, at a height no greater than swings. It will neither be, as some have stated, a water nor an amusement park. There are no plans for water slides or pools.

Some have insisted on exaggerating the scope, size or the intent of the playground. We have extended offers to meet with those opposing the playground vision, and Councilmember Kymberly Pine has offered to facilitate a meeting, but these invitations have been declined. We remain open to discussion.

Others have proposed Kakaako as an alternative site. Unfortunately, there are challenging and complex community issues at the location near the Hawaii Children’s Discovery Center, creating an environment within which we cannot invite Oahu’s children, including her most fragile, to play.

True inclusion is about welcoming others into a place already well-used and loved. Inclusive design is mindful of the needs of family members with disabilities, including kupuna and veterans, so that all families can enjoy the playground together.

It’s also about restrooms that are frequently cleaned and adequately maintained at no charge to the city, and which include an adult-sized changing table vital for those with mobility challenges.

And it’s about providing safety to kids and assurance to families, through enhancing security in the entire park by providing a work space for the Honolulu Police Department within a new, small concession, with the concession vendor maintaining the new restrooms.

Pa‘ani Kakou is committed to maintaining a reserve fund to assist the city with future maintenance, if needed, and we have proposed that concession revenues be put to work toward maintenance.

I agree with opponents’ statements that this project is a case of “haves vs. have-nots.” The “have-nots” are the 22,000 children who cannot access playgrounds on Oahu. The “haves” are those who currently use the park, and want the children to play elsewhere. At 119 acres, “The People’s Park” has room enough for everyone to be a “have.”

I am the mother of a daughter who died waiting for a playground like this, and four sons who missed their sister on the playground. It is time for all children to play. Together.

Tiffany Vara is executive director of Pa‘ani Kakou.