Baldwin Beach Park Master Plan Focus of Open House

The 56 acre Baldwin Beach Park is the focus of an upcoming open house to discuss a master plan and future park use.  The open house will be hosted by the Department of Parks and Recreation on Wednesday, March 6, from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Kaunoa Senior Center, room 101.

Attendees are encouraged to drop in any time during the event where questions will be answered directly in lieu of a formal presentation.

This will be the first open house for the project, and the focus will be on the community’s ideas and concerns. County officials say there will be many opportunities during this first event for participants to express their thoughts and to speak with the consultant team as well as Parks Department staff.

Baldwin Beach Park is one of the largest beach parks in the county’s system of parks and recreational facilities and is one of three major parks along Maui’s north shore that attract high levels of use. The park has never had a master plan and includes a considerable amount of undeveloped land that can be developed for recreational purposes.

Some of the critical issues the plan will address are: what kinds of activities and facilities are needed to meet the needs of county residents, how to address sea level rise, the size and location of parking, and managing overall use of the park.

“Preparing a master plan for Baldwin Beach Park is part of the Parks Department’s effort to create a long-term vision for all of our major parks, especially those along the north shore of Maui,” acting Parks Director Karla Peters said. “Because parks such as Baldwin Beach Park are so popular with residents and visitors, we are committed to coming up with plans that will guide the future improvement of these great parks as well as preserve all cultural significance.”

The master plan is being prepared with the assistance of a 12-member advisory committee, which is made up of residents who each bring their own perspective and expertise. After this open house, the advisory committee will work with the department to develop two concepts.

These concepts will be reviewed at a second open house, tentatively scheduled for late spring. The consultant team is headed by DTL LLC and includes subconsultants PBR Hawaiʻi (landscape architects), Sea Engineering, ʻĀina Archaeology, and J. Uno & Associates.