HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 1168.006 2006-2008
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May 18, 2008 2008 My 19 PM 1 16
To: COUNTY COUNCIL ` UN i r `^1.',rI
County of Hawaii
Hawaii County Building
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Mr. PETE HOFFMANN, Chair & Presiding Officer
Mr. K. ANGEL PILAGO, Vice Chair
Ms. BRENDA FORD
Mr. STACY K. HIGA
Mr. DONALD IKEDA
Mr. BOB JACOBSON
Ms. EMILY I. NAEOLE
Mr. DOMINIC YAGONG
Mr. J YOSHIMOTO
Subject: Written Testimony In Support For Bill 285: Authorizes the
Issuance of General Obligation Bonds of the County of Hawaii for
the Purpose of Funding All or a Portion of the Costs of Various
Improvement Projects for the County; Fixing the Form,
Denominations, and Certain Other Details of Such Bonds and
Providing for the Sale Thereof; and Authorizes the Taking of Other
Actions Relating to the Issuance and Sale of the Bonds
My name is Delmar B. Kleckner and a resident of the Machado Acres
Subdivision and past president of the Machado Acres Community Association. I
am unable to attend the May 20, 2008 meeting of the County Council due to
another meeting requiring my participation. However, I would like to present
written testimony in support of Bill 285. 1 understand that this bill contains
provisions for funding among other things, the Machado Acres passive park. Our
former association of residents has spent more than a decade trying to see this
project for a unique passive park become a reality.
The need for a passive park in the Waiakea Uka area becomes more pressing
with the passage of time as more and more of us residents in the area are getting
older. `Other recreational parks in the Waiakea area are dedicated to recreational
activities such as baseball, volleyball, soccer, and tennis that primarily the youth
in our communities. I am at the stage in my life where my recreational pursuits
are much less strenuous as is the case for many of the residents in the Waiakea
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Ref. Tw !V1 Page 1 of 1 Ref. Dote
Uka area. As our residents begin to age, we all need to keep active in order to
enjoy our later stages of life.
The plans for the Machado Acres passive park, which received input from the
subdivision residents, is that, as a passive park, it will serve a growing senior
resident population in our community as a place to walk and hike in a safe
setting. I am certain that such a park would also have some appeal to certain
exercise runners who don't like the idea of running on a track or the prospect of
dodging vehicles on our streets and highways.
Currently, walking or running for exercise in our neighborhoods carries the risk of
serious injury or worse if one uses Haihai Street or Ainaola Drive with passing
cars, trucks, etc. The risk of injury is compounded by the absence of sidewalks or
wide shoulders at many segments of these streets. Walking for exercise should
be an opportunity to experience the peace of our natural surroundings and not to
cause worry or concern that some inattentive driver may not see you on the
roadside. I believe there has been at least one fatality in the past couple of years
on Ainaola Drive near the Komohana Street intersection between a pedestrian
and vehicle. This accident occurred on an early Sunday morning with minimal
traffic on the road. I would hope that if there were an alternative to walking on
the roads and streets in the Waiakea Uka area, residents would use the passive
park trails instead.
I urge the County Council to enact Bill 285 with its provisions to fund the
completion of the Machado Acres passive park. Mahalo for the opportunity to
express my support for this bill.
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Delmar B. Kleckner
316 Ka Manelo Place
Hilo, HI 96720
Ph. (808) 640-9030
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