Parker Ranch CEO Dutch Kuyper, and the County of Hawaii have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that will result in the development of a district park for Waimea.
According to the terms of the MOU, Parker Ranch has agreed to provide about 24 acres to the county Department of Parks and Recreation, which will work with the community to design a district park that will include two football or soccer fields and a youth baseball field. Plans also envision a community gymnasium, parking and gathering areas. Parker Ranch is required to provide land for the park. Some preliminary planning work has been done in the past, but yet to be determined is final design and the cost. Funding is an open issue. Once the design and cost is known, County Parks and Recreation will need to work to secure funding.
Both Kuyer and Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi said the teams from Parker Ranch and Hawaii County worked well together in getting the details of the memorandum worked out.
Parker Ranch may, at its discretion, dedicate an additional 26 acres for future expansion from a district park to a regional park, which has more than 50 acres of recreational space. The county will be responsible for developing the park and the infrastructure necessary to support the park.
