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U. Background <br />V <br />Village Park Concept <br />The concept of a "Village ark" or "center" was es • <br />. P established as an Mainstreet Pahoa <br />Association priority through 'its strategic planning p r ocess conducted in 1994. The "center" <br />of town is considered to be the area around <br />the present Akebono Theater, although • t has <br />not always been at that area in the ,� � g <br />past. It has evolved to this particular old section" a <br />town on the 2 -mile road <br />d through the village, partly because this area ' <br />characterized y ea continues to be <br />by the only existing cluster of old re -mid century <br />buildings ho P n�rY 2 -story wood frame <br />• g using a small but tightly put together critical mass of ' <br />establishments. small business <br />The Mainstreet Pahoa Association (MSPA) offi . office is located �n this area and is <br />nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation established in F • a <br />February of 199. when Mainstreet Pahoa <br />was formed, the assets and membership base of the • <br />• p e 11 -year old Pahoa Business Association <br />were merged into MSPA which was organized to enable <br />.. g ble Pahoa village merchants to <br />participate in the National Mainstreet Program, <br />MSPA was accepted into the State network f • <br />appropriate o programs �n 1992 and received funding <br />pp pr7ate to its status as a seedling town." Funding as applied <br />and program d g PP towards organizational <br />P gr development, economic restructuring and the hi . <br />Village. In , g �� stork restoration of the Pahoa <br />g 1993, MSPA was elevated to associate status. . . <br />• s. with the increase 1n funding, it <br />was able to sponsor five major community ... g <br />. ] ty program activities and establish an office <br />presence on the main street in space shared with the Puna . <br />Outdoor Circle. The Pahoa High <br />School Parent Teacher and Student Association <br />anon assisted through a work study student for <br />part time receptionist and clerical trainin . <br />g <br />However, in 1995, because of budget co . <br />ro g constraints, state funding to all Main Street <br />programs were cut. Since then, MSPA has operated on dues fundraising ' <br />rne1n P , fundraus�ng and its volunteer <br />membership base. MSP members have been • <br />.. , working together on community development <br />activities for the past 15 ears and have the • P <br />Y e organ�atYonal capacity including technical and <br />managerial skills to complete the g <br />p e development of the Pahoa Village Park. <br />g <br />As part of its mission, MSPA was created • <br />. to establish and maintain Pahoa Village <br />as the social, cultural and commercial center � <br />of lower Puna District. Its primary passion is <br />to enhance the economic vitality rY <br />• . , ty and the quality of life of the community. MSPA <br />established five priorities: • ty A has <br />P es: economic development; historic reservation• environmental <br />public safe P � nmental <br />protection; <br />eq P safety; and family and youth recreation. <br />In 1994, MSPA developed a Mainstreet P ' <br />,P ahoa Strate is Plan 1994 -2000 thrau h town <br />meetings, roundtable discussions, a merchant � . • t� � . <br />ant survey and a design checklist to help identify <br />strengths and areas in nee � <br />d of improvement. out of this came agreements g ents on such needs <br />Ri <br />