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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0138.039 2000-2002 Director - Deo Dir 119 Manuleie Street rt Planner Hilo, HI 96720 - . _ ~ccountin March 29, 2001 ' ' ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ P®rsonn® , y . Ms. Pat Engelhard Director, Parks & Recreation COUNTY OF HAWAII 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, HI 96720-4252 RE: LIHIWAI STREET Aloha: As residents of Hilo, our family is fos leavi,~g:,i.i street c/®sed. We praise the efforts of the bounty ®f fiawai'i to provide a more family-friendly area. We see more families, younger families with str®Blers and carriages, enjoying full activity at the park. We are willing to sacrifice convenience to enjoy a safe and beautiful place without the dangers, the fumes and the noise buses and cars will impose. We understand the arguments regarding accessibility and convenience: ? The additional parking near Nihon Restaurant provides greater accessibility to the bayfront, but not direct access to the park for Grandpa Wendell Marino and Grandpa Raymond Fujikawa. Nevertheless, they are able to enjoy the advantages of having Lihiwai street closed. It is inconvenient to haul our "ukana" or coolers and such on foot to the other end of the park or when our 4-year old refuses to ride back on her bike to the car parked near the teahouse, but are willing to do so because of the outweighing advantages. As it is now: G Our family, including our aging, disabled grandparents, can walk on Lihiwai Street along side their grandchildren without the fumes and dangers imposed by cars, buses, and crowded sidewalks. CI We can enjoy a jog around the park without interfering with the many couples, young and old, hand in hand walking along the sidewalk. Comm. No, / ~ ~ ~ J File No. P~az~~~ ~M L Ref. To: Reg. APR 3 20(3 _ ~ Cur ~-year old can ride her bicycle with training wheels along our side without us worrying that a vehicle will hit her or that she'll interfere with someone else's jog or walk. ~ We can enjoy a picnic without furrtes and noise. We can enjoy the pristine view without any obstructions from buses. The park does provide access to the disabled. They can stiff enjoy the meat without the meal being taken to them. It isn't aproblem-free, politically-correct park. It doesn't provide designated parking for mothers with infants. It doesn't have a statue of t_ili'uokalani. It doesn't have security and adequate lighting throughout the park. It doesn't have sufficient parking fortwenty-five percent of Hilo's population. Nevertheless, we praise the efforts of the County of Hawaii to provide a one-of-a-kind, family-friendly attraction. YES! We urge the County to keep Lihiwai Street closed. Sincerely, l~) Timothy Marino Raenette Marino ~ockne Marino ®esirae Marino Srittny Rae Marino