We the people of Maui Lani Subdivision Community are Against the Development of the 65-acre Central Maui Sports Complex in Kahului right outside our BACKYARD.  The proposed location for the Central Maui Regional Park, is not a park, as presented...  Rather, it's an extensive sports complex with  9 BASEBALL/SOFTBALL FIELDS - LIGHTED - and 3 SOCCER FIELDS, along with PARKING FOR 600+ VEHICLES.  There are no other elements of a traditional "park" - it is only for organized sports.  This sports complex was designed by a company on Oahu and is being pushed by the State Department of Land and Natural Resources - despite the fact that it will be a Maui County park.  Because the State is providing the initial funding, they feel they can tell the residents of Central Maui what they need - with no input from the Maui community. As you can see below, the proposed park sits immediately behind a large residential community.  It will be virtually in the backyards of many of these homes and will affect hundreds of other neighbors.  According to the State's plan, the separation distance between the sports complex and the homes will be about 50 FEET!  Think about how far away you can see current sports field lighting on Maui (miles) - then imagine those lights 50-100 feet from your home.

 The members of these surrounding neighborhoods are fighting to get a park that will actually be useful and beneficial for the community at large - not just a few sports organizations.  Sports fields have their place in the community, but not when they will destroy the quality of life for entire neighborhoods.    The proposed Sports Complex (now, even the DLNR calls it that – not a “park”) is a “one trick pony.” Its sole purpose is for use by organized sports teams. When it is not being used for games, it really has no other value. Should the residents of the surrounding neighborhoods have to endure the lights, noise, traffic, and depreciated property values for that?   The state is currently in a 800 million dollar budget deficet.   I find it curious that they were able to appropriate $22 million for a personel project. With high unemployment, foreclosures, poorly funded schools, and nearly unaffordable housing this money could have been better spent.  There is no public need for this park.  It is a waste of tax payer money.   For far less than the budgeted $22+ million the State is willing to spend on the sports complex, Maui could have an amazing park that would be among the top parks in the state. This park would be available to ALL the residents of Maui, 365 days a year. It would be a treasured asset to the community and enhance the quality of life. The residents of the nearby neighborhoods strongly support the development of such a park. It is what many of us were told was supposed to be developed in this area when we bought our homes years ago.   We propose a REAL park that would have amenities such as:   - a dog park   - age-appropriate playground areas   - open space (grass) with picnic tables and pavilions   - walking/jogging paths   - a parcourse (exercise stations)   - basketball and/or tennis courts.   A park like this would be:   - MUCH cheaper to build   - less expensive to operate and maintain   - more environmentally friendly   - safer (kids in the neighborhoods often play in the streets now)   - much more beneficial to the adjacent neighborhoods and the community at large   - an enhancement to property values, not a detriment   Please join us in supporting the development of a REAL park in Central Maui. Let your voice be heard by those involved in this project – before it’s too late! See the What You Can Do tab for more information.