9-year-old Noah Doak has spent most of his childhood hanging out here at the Banzai Skate Park on Oahu’s North Shore.
"It’s a place to have fun, keep my mind off of things and progress," he says.
But, Noah’s parents and other skate-boarders say the park just isn’t what they had hoped for their kids years ago.
"This has been a great place to come and we’re getting there but it needs to be finished," says Noah’s dad Ernie Doak.
The initial concept for the park started in 1976. After years of delays and set backs, construction began in 2007. A skate park the community says is still not done.
"There’s a lot of open land here and I think it needs to be better utilized," says Karen Gallagher, North Shore resident and Sunset Beach Community Association Treasurer.
"I’m disappointed it hasn’t been completed, I don’t think any community needs to wait that long to have a public facility done," says Honolulu City Councilman Ernie Martin.
A handful of residents have formed a Citizens Advisory Group to partner with the City and get work going again to finish the park by adding more skateable surfaces, shade trees, seating areas, restrooms and drinking fountains.
"I’m committed within my term to get it done," says Martin.
Currently the City Council has agreed to fund $1.3-million to add a parking lot and landscaping. But, Budget Chair Ernie Martin says, the project may not be fully funded due to possible budget restrictions.
"With the way the economy is, government can only do so much," he says.
"I like to quote John F. Kennedy, "Ask not what your government can do for you, but what you can do for your government and what we can do for our community," says Gallagher.
The group is reaching out to local residents and business to raise the additional funds for more needed modifications.
"We’re reaching out to the surf companies, skate companies, Vans already contributes $30,000 to the local community each year, we hope to include some of those funds into the skate park fund," says Marty Thomas, Vans Triple Crown of Surfing.
"We’re optimistic we’re going to see this thing through," says Gallagher.
North Shore residents hope to have the Banzai Skate Park completed by next year.
See the original article at: KHON2 Local News
