DENNIS FUJIMOTOTGI Staff Photographer WAILUA — A battery charger’s hum is effectively screened out by the off-shore breeze that cools the main pavilion while the Lydgate Park custodians enjoy their lunch. The source of the charger is one of the
DENNIS FUJIMOTOTGI Staff Photographer
WAILUA — A battery charger’s hum is effectively screened out by the off-shore
breeze that cools the main pavilion while the Lydgate Park custodians enjoy
their lunch.
The source of the charger is one of the electrical outlets on
the main stage, and its output is connected to a windowless, roofless golf cart
that had seen a morning of errand-running and light trash movement in the
50-acre recreational facility that buzzed with the sound of children enjoying
the Winter Break.
In the background, a trio worked silently on their
project, the hollow-tiled open-aired enclosure that housed trash
containers.
“It (the golf cart) needs to be charged at least overnight,”
Glenn Mickens, the leader of the volunteer corps said.
Since Holiday Inn
SunSpree Resort donated the cart for the use by park officials, it has been
parked around the place, but more frequently, tucked away in a corner near one
of the bathrooms, an electrical umbilical cord connecting it to a power source
in one of the small storage rooms.
Mickens added that the golf cart is a
welcome addition to the tools used to police the popular recreational park, but
a lot of work went into getting the cart rolling.
Ray Carpenter, another of
the three volunteers, spent several weeks welding, painting, cutting, and
applying enough elbow grease to get the four flattened tires inflated, the body
repaired, and a new coat of green paint applied so the cart could become a
functional addition to the volunteer and custodial staff at Lydgate.
Today,
Don Aslett joined the group as they assembled various pieces of lumber to form
a roof for the former trash enclosure that would become the future home for the
golf cart.
Crediting the efforts of Ian Costa, Pat Ferraro, and Doug Haig
of the County of Kaua’i, the trio accepted delivery of materials and set about
creating the roof that would provide a secure garage for the park’s golf
cart.
“Power will be routed to the shed underground,” Mickens said, “and
the cart will be able to get its twelve hours of charging.”
The “garage” is
the latest addition to the Wailua park complex that houses the popular Kamalani
Playground as well as a children’s wading pool and an expanse of beachfront for
picnickers.
