Mauna Kea Recreation Area Park Opens

Mauna Kea Recreation Area’s 3,700-square-foot playground opened to the public on Monday.

Mayor Billy Kenoi, alongside County Councilman Aaron Chung and officials from the Department of Parks and Recreation, were present during the grand opening.

The playground, built for children ages five to 12, utilizes a system of ropes, rails,  a spinning apparatus, and climbing ladders to emphasize balance and movement. A padded safety surface protected by synthetic turf with resemblance to actual grass was put in place by Site Engineering Inc., the general contractor for the project, assisted by Takamine Construction Inc.

Since December 2008, more that $4 million has been spent by Hawai’i County in building new playgrounds around the island.

Mauna Kea Recreation Area’s newest addition will be open daily. The park is situated near the 34-mile marker on Daniel K. Inouye Highway.

Other recent projects at the facility since being transferred from state to county stewardship include a new restroom, parking lot pavement, avpicnic area, lighted flag poles, landscaping, and security.

The next project in the works for the area are renovations for cabins and an expanded water system that would allow for overnight use.