• Lydgate Park
Lydgate Park
The Lydgate Park area that stretches south from the south bank of the Wailua River is a microcosm of Kaua‘i.
Young children with grandparents and parents swim in its kiddy pool. Fishermen enjoy this undeveloped stretch of beach for shore fishing at a time in Kaua‘i’s history when beach access and the freedom of the coastline of the past is gradually disappearing. Surfers ride the waves, especially on Kona-wind days. The park is named for John Lydgate, a founder of the Kaua‘i Historical Society, a former editor of The Garden Island and a man who sparked the preservation of Kaua‘i’s ancient archaeological sites, as well as the collection of the island’s ongoing history. Kamalani Playground is a major attraction for Eastside kids. Teen-agers lay rubber at night and hang out. South of the beach, the homeless sometimes make camp. Drugs are reportedly dealt in the park, maybe day and night.
These overlapping uses can cause friction when users of the beach and park come at each other against the grain.
Better advance planning of the design for this area could have prevented many of the conflicts arising. With a new pavilion, camping ground and other facilities on the way at Lydgate, more careful consideration of the overall picture at the park should be taken into consideration.
A good example is the beach access issue at the Kamalani Kai Bridge section of the park, located at its south end.
Here, fishermen, surfers and beach-goers have for decades gone to a beach without development. Now a structure used mostly by young children comes between them and their traditional beach access to this area. Safety is a big issue here.
A workshop called by Mayor Bryan J. Baptiste on this issue is set for tomorrow, Thursday, March 11, at 5:15 p.m. at the large pavilion at Lydgate Park.
About three weeks ago a public meeting was held on the increased use of the beaches in and around Lydgate Park. Some 50 people turned out for this. While there were divisions at the meeting, there was hope that compromises could be worked out that would be satisfactory to all parties.
The ongoing public dialogue on this touchy issue is the most direct way to resolve this problem. Letting this problem take its own course, directed by isolated incidents of friction between park users, would quench the spirit of Lydgate Park. Thousands of volunteer hours and many memories for both young and old of great days at the beach and park are behind the park.
In addition, stepped-up law enforcement is needed to deter drug dealing and other criminal activity at the park, both day time and night time.
