City reopens Central Oahu park used as temporary Kona low debris site
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Patsy T. Mink Central Oʻahu Regional Park (CORP) fully reopened to the public Thursday after restoration work was completed following its use as a temporary debris site in the wake of the Kona low storms.
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The city’s Department of Environmental Services (ENV) said ENV director Roger Babcock joined the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) staff and state Sen. Danielle Bass at the debris site located near Kamehameha Highway and Ka Uka Boulevard.
To show the park was safe for recreational use, they spent time passing footballs, volleyballs and soccer balls on the restored grounds.
“Our priority, from day one, was to return this park to the public better than it was before and that’s exactly what we’re doing,” Babcock said. “We’re happy to be here today and grateful for the community’s patience along the way.”
The city said that over 18 days, roughly 3,000 tons of storm debris were deposited at the park site, where it was sorted and transported to the Waimānalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill and various recyclers.
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City crews applied environmental protections including filter socks, temporary dust fencing and 24/7 monitoring.
The city said an independent lab tested the soil before and after cleanup and found no harmful contaminants, meeting all state health department requirements. Crews then graded the site with clean soil, repaired the irrigation system and reseeded the area with grass.
“After the Kona Lows, I immediately heard from Mililani, Waipiʻo, and Waikele residents concerned about debris being stored at Central Oʻahu Regional Park,” said State Senator Danielle Bass, who represents the area. “We raised those concerns directly with the city and pushed for full restoration. Mahalo to the City for listening, taking action, and ensuring this important community park is restored and protected for the many Central Oʻahu families who use it.”
The city has set up a website dedicated to information about testing results, which is available here.
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