Randall Francisco, a Westside advocate, is hoping that children returning to Waimea Canyon Middle School Monday will be greeted by the new skate ramps installed by volunteers with the Kaua‘i Skate ‘Ohana and other community volunteers on Saturday.
“The goal is to finish by the end of the day,” Francisco said. “During the last install at Hanapepe, they worked hard and into the night to try and finish. On top of that, there was no food for the workers. We need to make sure they get fed.”
Francisco said the group of about two dozen volunteers started work at the Hanapepe base yard on Friday to get the different components cut and painted ahead of Saturday, which was the assembly phase.
He rolled up his sleeves and got busy with firing up the grill and preparing the hamburgers for the volunteers who toiled in the hot sun adjacent to Waimea Athletic Field and the school.
The site for the selection of the ramp installation was partly determined by the response the county and Kaua‘i Skate ‘Ohana leaders received from the Kekaha Play Street that was held earlier in the year at the Kekaha Neighborhood Center.
“We have another Play Street coming up where Lihu‘e and Eastside people are able to provide feedback,” said Gregg Pacilio, president of Kaua‘i Skate ‘Ohana. “That Play Street will happen on Oct. 29 as part of the Rice Street Block Party that was announced by the county.
The Waimea installation is a trio of 4-foot-high ramps that are wider than the 6-foot ramps at the Hanapepe Park next to the Hanapepe fire station.
“This is the third installation being done under a Department of Health Quick Build grant,” Pacilio said. “Each one is unique, starting with the Lihu‘e ramp. This one is not as tall as the Hanapepe ramp, but it is wider and offers a different projection than the other two ramps.”
Pacilio said the overall goal of the ramps is to get young people outdoors and doing physical activity. Having the ramps adjacent to the playground and basketball courts affords options to young mothers bringing their children to the park.
“The toddlers can enjoy the playground while the older ones can take advantage of the basketball court, and now, the skate ramps,” Pacilio said. “It’s all about getting the keiki outdoors and doing something.”
One volunteer commented on the skate ramps making a real difference in the lives of young people.
“Half the crowd playing basketball will be here on the ramps,” he said. “This is life-changing for the young kids. This is the playground of the future. Young people want skate parks, and this is the first step.”
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 808-245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
