WAIMEA — The proposed Waimea Sports complex would feature facilities for all ages when it opens. More than 250 people packed into the Waimea Theater Tuesday night to learn more about the proposed Waimea Sports Complex. In outlining his vision
WAIMEA — The proposed Waimea Sports complex would feature facilities for all ages when it opens.
More than 250 people packed into the Waimea Theater Tuesday night to learn more about the proposed Waimea Sports Complex.
In outlining his vision for the project, designer Glenn Kimura, owner of Kimura International, said due to projected costs, the WSC would be developed in phases, “Unless someone knows Steve Case,” he laughed.
The estimated cost of the complex is $45.26 million. Kimura broke down the costs and asked the crowd to be creative in fundraising efforts.
“This will lead to job creation,” said Diane Zachary, president and CEO of the Kaua‘i Planning and Action Alliance of the complex as she made introductions of various political figures in the crowd including Wanda Kau-Shibata, the Kaua‘i liaison with Gov. Abercrombie’s office. Also present were Kaua‘i County Council members Nadine Nakamura, Ross Kagawa, JoAnn Yukimura and Gary Hooser.
Located on the makai side of Waimea Canyon Middle School, the proposed facility would offer everything from baseball and softball fields that are regulation size for high school and college teams to soccer fields designed for multi-age players and basketball courts. The sports complex is being posited as a community destination that could also be configured for fairs and festivals.
The baseball diamonds would have an east by northeast orientation to make it easier for players to keep the sun out of their eyes.”
“We’re one of the first to have this design,” said Kimura.
The complex would also feature a regulation track and field surface that could be used for the triple jump, the high jump and pole vault.
“It would be level, not sloped toward the middle,” Kimura said of the design, which allows the field to be used for football games as well.
The facility would feature covered basketball courts that could be used for volleyball games.
Around the perimeter of the field there is a walking/bicycle path. Also planned are playgrounds scattered throughout the complex, along with a parcourse that would allow users to do various forms of exercise.
The perimeter would also feature a number of water features/holding areas to prevent the fields from flooding in heavy rains.
Kimura said the complex would be developed in phases, starting with the baseball complex and softball fields. The multipurpose field and basketball courts would be in the second phase. The third phase would consist of the soccer fields and the track and field facility.
The parking was also designed with families in mind with 1,300 planned spaces scattered throughout the facility, rather than centralized because Kimura said there were parking concerns and people want to be able “to reverse their trucks and drink beers.”
Some of the fields could also be used for overflow parking during festivals and special events.
As for the timeline to get the WSC built, Kimura said he is shooting for 2014.
“We’d like to have kids play on it before they’re old enough to play in senior tournaments.”
More on the financial impacts on Kaua‘i and Waimea of building the Waimea Sports Complex will be highlighted in Business Monday.
• Laurie Cicotello, business writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 257) or business@thegardenisland.com
