In 2020, the Trust for Public Land (TPL) brought its national, community-driven Parks for People Program to Hawaiʻi with a pilot project at ʻAʻala Park. At the time, TPL partnered with community organizations, service providers, and public agencies working in and around the park, embarking on a year-long grass-roots community engagement effort.

Building on these activities, with this participatory project, TPL and UHCDC aim to engage the surrounding ʻAʻala Park community in a hands-on, interactive design process for park improvements, programming, and activations. Based on the results of previous grass-roots community engagement and historical research, through iterative community-participatory design, UHCDC will develop a conceptual proof-of-concept design plan for ʻAʻala Park improvements. The project will lay the groundwork for enhancing the park in a manner responsive to local needs, providing greater benefit to residents, and building a foundation for meaningful new uses and sustainable, long-term park stewardship. Activating ʻAʻala Park will improve this public space with the goal of contributing to community health, equity, well-being, and connections to the outdoors, promoting environmental, social, and economic sustainability, and transforming the site into a safe and welcoming place for all.

Client: The Trust for Public Land
Principal Investigator: Judith Stilgenbauer ASLA
Project Staff: Angelica Rockquemore ASLA, Emily Sobolewski Knight ASLA
Student Project Assistants: Alzira Fernandes, Dean Matsumura, Emily Sobolewski-Knight
Timeframe: August 2022 – June 2023