HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0453.015 2004-2006 •JM~v.or yw''
y~,,, Patricia G. Engelhard
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Harry Kim Director
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r-'5 Pamela N. Mizuno
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Deputy Director
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DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION
101 Pauahi Street, Suite 6 • Hilo, Hawaii 9ti720
(808) 961-8311 • Fax (80S) 961-84H
November 21, 2005
MEMORANDUM
TO: Honorable Stacy N. Higa and f~lembers
Hawaii County Council
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FROM: Patricia G. EngelhardJ~l~~~,~'~'
Director
SUBJECT: Small Boat Harbors and Boat Ramps to Hawaii County
The Department of Parks and Recreation strives to improve the quality of life for our residents by providing
a full range of recreational areas, facilities, programs and services. Our department provides a wide
variety of recreational and cultural programs while operating and maintaining over 140 sites throughout the
island. These sites include beach parks, neighborhood parks, senior centers, and community centers, and
also offer facilities for active recreation such as ball fields, soccer fields, gyms, swimming pools, tennis
courts and rodeo arenas.
In addition, Parks and Recreation is responsible for the maintenance of Honaunau, Mahukona, and
Laupahoehoe boat ramps. While the County Council is considering accepting the management of boat
ramps and small boat harbors on the Island of Hawaii from the State of Hawaii, Parks and Recreation is
unable to assume responsibility for additional facilities. We currently lack the resources to maintain park
infrastructure at an acceptable level. Repairs and maintenance are badly needed at the three existing
boat ramps, and our shortage of resources and expertise make it impossible to take on any more work at
this time.
In the past, our Department has been given new parks, facilities, and programs with no additional
resources. We cannot continue to do this without falling further and further behind in maintaining and
meeting the existing needs of our current facilities.
It is our hope that the County Council will carefully consider this testimony and the burden these State
facilities will add to the Department of Parks and Recreation, with its limited capacity for maintaining and
upgrading boat ramps and small boat harbors on the Big Island.
Please call if you have any questions.
Comm. No. S 3. I S
Ref. To:_j"~"'~~'~~
County of Nawai'i is an Equal Opportunity Prow der and Employer. Ref. ~ nS~