Requesting The Commander Of Joint Base Pearl Harbor-hickam To Allow The Department Of Parks And Recreation Of The City And County Of Honolulu To Use The Restricted Vacant Land On The Pearl City Peninsula For Youth Ball Programs.
The vacant land in question measures approximately twelve acres and has been out of use for over thirty years due to contamination concerns from a past fire incident involving the United States Navy. The resolution emphasizes that the majority of this area is believed to be free of contamination, potentially allowing for the construction of at least three ball fields, with a contaminated section designated for parking. By leveraging this land for recreational purposes, the resolution seeks to alleviate the scarcity of facilities available to local youth teams.
Senate Resolution 16 (SR16) requests the commander of Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam to allow the Department of Parks and Recreation of the City and County of Honolulu to utilize restricted vacant land on the Pearl City Peninsula for youth ball programs. The resolution arises from a significant demand for ball fields in the city, where youth teams often struggle to secure permits for existing parks. The goal is to create adequate facilities for soccer, baseball, and flag football, benefitting both public and military family youth in the area.
While the resolution does not seem to have immediate opposition, the history of the land's usage and the presence of PFAS contamination raise questions about safety and environmental issues. Stakeholders may scrutinize whether the proposed recreational use is indeed safe given the past usage of harmful substances. The resolution reflects community desires, particularly from the Pearl City Neighborhood Board, to enhance recreational opportunities, which could lead to broader discussions about land use regulations and environmental health in the region.