Good results so far at nine urban parks under the 24/7 security pilot project

Pilot project extended past January, 2019

News Release from City and County of Honolulu, December 13, 2018

Honolulu – Four weeks since Mayor Kirk Caldwell first announced a pilot project to provide 24/7 security at nine parks in urban Honolulu, the results so far are promising as all of the parks remain mostly clear of personal property and encampments. Based on the success of the past month Mayor Caldwell has directed the Department of Parks and Recreation to continue the pilot project into January 2019.

“The good news is that security in our parks is working,” said Mayor Caldwell. “We will continue to monitor the progress as the pilot project continues for another month, and if the results remain positive we will seek to secure additional funding in the upcoming operating budget to keep our parks open and available for park use for everyone.”  

Since the month-long pilot project began on November 15 the Mayor’s Office has surveyed the nine parks in question three times per week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and the results are very positive. The reports generated as a result of this monitoring can be found here: https://bit.ly/2Qsimwy

The initial month-long 24/7 security contract ($44,000) was awarded to Hawai‘i Protective Association, which will continue to monitor the nine parks through January under the same terms. The active patrols include the following park locations:

• ʻAʻala Park
• Ala Wai Community Park
• Ala Wai Neighborhood Park
• Crane Community Park
• Kamāmalu Neighborhood Park
• Mōʻiliʻili Neighborhood Park
• Mother Waldron Neighborhood Park
• Old Stadium Park
• Pāwaʻa In-Ha Park

The pilot project involves two uniformed guards regularly patrolling the above mentioned parks, using a marked vehicle as their transport. The guards do not have citation powers, but are trained to mitigate confrontational situations and coordinate with the Honolulu Police Department should further enforcement be necessary.

This pilot project supplements a separate security initiative announced earlier this year. That initiative, to secure select park comfort stations and parking lots, has been successful in reducing vandalism at the 41 parks it currently encompasses. Plans to expand that initiative to Windward O‘ahu and North Shore park locations are currently being finalized.

—PAU—