Funding Released for First Phase of Waimea District Park

Gov. Neil Abercrombie has released $2.5 million for design and engineering for the first phase of a district park in Waimea.

The funding from general obligation bonds was appropriated during the recent legislative session.

According to the project’s draft environmental assessment, the park’s first phase will be 24 acres in size and will include a covered play court, multi-use community building, pavilion, bathroom, two football fields, youth baseball field and multi-use walkway.

The park’s second phase, which will convert the facility to what is known as a regional park, is slated to cover an additional 26 acres and will include additional ball fields and bathrooms and an extended walkway.

It will also include the conversion of the covered play court to a gymnasium if sufficient funding can be secured, the draft study said.

The park will be located between Waimea town and the area’s airport.