New playground at Kamehameha Park in Kapaʻau opens on Saturday

In July, the decades-old equipment at the playground at Kamehameha Park in Kapa‘au was demolished, making way for a newly designed and installed place for children to play safely.

Hawaiʻi County’s Department of Parks and Recreation said the playground with a synthetic turf safety surfacing system would open on Saturday.

The playground now meets Americans with Disabilities Act standards and features new tactile and interactive elements, challenging climbing structures similar to those at Gilbert Kahele Recreation Area, and various spinners and swings.

The $750,000 playground project will greatly benefit the keiki of North Kohala.

“We’re thrilled to bring a new, safe and accessible playground to the keiki of North Kohala,” Mayor Mitch Roth said in a press release. “This project reflects our commitment to creating spaces where our children can play, learn and thrive. We’re excited to see families come together to enjoy this new addition to Kamehameha Park.”

To celebrate, Parks & Recreation invites the community to join a reopening and blessing event at the playground on Saturday at 11 a.m.

Other improvements in the project include the addition of accessible walkways, new fencing, benches and an accessible picnic table.

“Playgrounds provide enormous health benefits for keiki and also support the well-being of their families and caregivers,” said Maurice Messina, Director of Parks & Recreation. “We are pleased to open this new playground, replacing an important feature at Kamehameha Park.”

Though the playground itself is complete, construction work is continuing at some of the adjacent areas that will be fenced off and marked with signage.

Kamehameha Park hours are 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.