At ʻAikahi Elementary School in Kailua, the playground has become a hotspot for local families seeking safe recreational spaces for their children.
This well-equipped playground features small slides and climbing structures, perfectly suited for toddlers, along with large shade-providing monkeypod trees and comfortable benches for parents.
Unfortunately, the playground remains closed to the public, accessible only through a locked gate, creating a dilemma for parents like Maya Childress, who must jump a fence or crawl under gates every time they wish to use the facilities.
Despite the locked gates and ‘no trespassing’ signs proclaiming that supervision is required for playground use, scores of children flock to the space on weekends.
As some parents grapple with the decision to trespass, the ongoing debate around public access to school playgrounds has intensified.
The Honolulu Police Department recently investigated a birthday party held at ʻAikahi Elementary, an event that highlighted community frustration as police did not issue citations but drew attention to the playground’s restricted access.
Parents took to social media, arguing that these playgrounds were established with community funding and should be open to everyone during weekends.
While Hawaiian lawmakers have urged the Department of Education (DOE) to facilitate public access to school playgrounds, concerns about safety and liability remain prominent.
Current DOE policies mandate that individuals submit applications and pay usage fees to access school facilities.
However, families often do not pursue these formal channels, leading to frustration and a feeling of disconnection from their local educational institutions.
As parents express a desire for more widespread access, some reach out to school playgrounds as convenient options for their children’s playtime.
The issue of public access is further complicated by the fact that recreational facilities vary significantly across neighborhoods.
Urban Honolulu tends to offer more playgrounds, while less populated regions, such as Nānākuli, may find their residents without access to city-run playgrounds.
To further highlight this disparity, the Department of Parks and Recreation operates over 130 playgrounds throughout Oʻahu, contributing to a mix of access for families.
While city playgrounds may be inadequate for younger children, parents like April Meinken argue for the benefits of opening school playgrounds to provide diverse and suitable options for play.
She pointed out the limitations of city parks, noting that some playgrounds aren’t enclosed and pose safety risks for younger kids.
“Kids get kind of bored of doing the same thing over and over again,” she explained.
Access to different school playgrounds could provide variety and enrich her daughter’s play experience.
Unfortunately, schools like ʻAikahi Elementary have had to grapple with safety and vandalism concerns over time, leading them to restrict public access.
Years ago, community members raised $150,000 to build a new playground at ʻAikahi Elementary with the intention of it being open for public use.
However, in light of safety issues and the responsibility of keeping the area clean, the school eventually closed it off to the public.
In more recent years, the playground suffered from vandalism, sparking further discussions about the necessity of securing school grounds against unauthorized use.
“It was sad, because you would want shared use of those facilities,” remarked Laura Thielen, Director of the Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation, recalling her time representing the community in the Legislature.
Although families persisted in their use of the playground despite its closure, some schools, including Makakilo Elementary and Nānāikapono Elementary, have faced similar issues, leading to increased calls for security.
Kāneʻohe Elementary’s Principal, Derek Minakami, acknowledges these concerns, emphasizing the importance of safety and the lack of staff after hours to supervise school grounds.
With calls for shared use omnipresent, finding a compromise that satisfies both community desires and school safety regulations remains crucial.
The distinction between DOE properties and city parks often blurs, with the city owning more than 80 properties that include DOE schools.
This collaboration allows schools to utilize park space but can complicate access agreements, as those relationships vary with leadership changes.
In recent legislative efforts, there have been pushes to identify clear lines of distinction between public parks and school property to promote better recreational access for the community.
The Honolulu City Council adopted a resolution requesting collaboration between city parks and DOE to expand public access to these playgrounds.
Despite these efforts, the DOE maintains its stance against unrestricted public access due to concerns over liability and potential for increased costs related to maintenance and damages.
The Attorney General’s office reiterated this concern, stating that opening public school facilities without protective measures could expose the DOE to significant legal risks.
In response, communities are looking for alternative solutions or creative partnerships, similar to those found in mainland cities that successfully allow public access to school facilities.
For example, in San Diego, the school district collaborates with the city to maintain fields and playgrounds during times when classes are not being held.
Laura Thielen of the parks department expressed a desire to pursue similar arrangements with the DOE to enhance community recreation opportunities while ensuring proper upkeep of facilities.
For now, the focus remains on constructing more age-appropriate playgrounds throughout the island while making existing structures more accessible to families.
“We just want to make sure that we provide the best community services for education and recreation,” Thielen said.
As the debates continue, both community voices and institutional policies will need to come together to determine the future of playground access in Hawaii.
image source from：civilbeat
