Renovated Carvalho Park to Open Thursday

A ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday for the reopening of the renovated Gilbert Carvalho Park in Hilo.

Since it was closed last September, the popular park near the intersection of Waianuenue Avenue and Kaumana Drive has undergone upgrades costing $890,000.

The work has included remodeling of the gymnasium restrooms, the installation of new bleachers at the ball field and new, paved walking paths.

The park also has a new graveled parking area nearly an acre in size. Jason Armstrong, spokesman for the county Department of Parks and Recreation, said the additional parking will improve public safety by reducing parking in the grassy shoulder along Waianuenue Avenue, an area passed by emergency vehicles en route to the nearby Hilo Medical Center.

In addition to the gymnasium and lighted baseball field, the park features pavilions and a keiki playground, and serves as the site for softball tournaments and parties.

Dignitaries on hand for the event will include Mayor Billy Kenoi, County Councilman Donald Ikeda and Ruby Carvalho, widow of Gilbert Carvalho. She will be presented with a copy of the County Council resolution naming the park after her late husband.

The ceremony will include a presentation to Margo Aguiar of a certificate commemorating the Hawai‘i Island Portuguese Chamber of Commerce and acknowledging its efforts to perpetuate Portuguese culture. Aguiar is the widow of Dennis D. Aguiar, the namesake of the annual Dennis G. Aguiar Portuguese Day in the Park to be held Sunday.

“The Department of Parks and Recreation wishes to thank the public for remaining patient while these upgrades were being performed,” Parks Director Bob Fitzgerald said. “Carvalho Park is now bigger, safer and more accessible than ever.”