REVITALIZING OLD STADIUM PARK
On Saturday, May 26th, Blue Zones Project - Mānoa-Makiki-McCully-Mō‘ili‘ili partnered up with City and County of Honolulu and Biki to revitalize Old Stadium Park, by conducting a litter pick-up workday.
Over 40 volunteers—ages 1 to 84—joined us bright and early to pick up abandoned trash, sweep loose leaves, and clear drains clogged with overgrown weeds and mud. After just a few hours, the group filled over 45 trash bags and left the park looking fantastic! Beyond our work in the park, the event helped to raise awareness around the efforts of the Blue Zones Project to improve community health and wellbeing; many nearby residents and park goers curiously asked who we were, what we were doing there, and how they could get involved.
More About Old Stadium PArk
The Old Stadium Park was once home to Honolulu Stadium, a historic sport and event complex erected in 1926 that hosted football and baseball games, polo matches, rodeos, and concerts, and welcomed legends such as Jesse Owens, Babe Ruth, and Elvis Presley. After being torn down in 1976, the space became a beautiful park that was highly visited by residents across the island. Many remember the park as the place where they first learned how to ride a bike, a site for family BBQs, and a gathering space for community festivals. What was once a thriving park has now become a dilapidated and underutilized piece a land in the middle of Moiliili.
With the launch of the Blue Zones Project in the 4M (Manoa-Makiki-McCully-Moiliili), it became clear that the residents wanted to reclaim and revitalize Old Stadium Park to become a cornerstone of their community. They wished for a day that thousands of people and their pets could enjoy the park for daily strolls, bike rides, and exercise classes. They dream of a day that it can become a place where children can safely play outdoors alongside their neighborhood friends, parents, and grandparents, and a place that can once again host family picnics, church gatherings, and community events.
Through the leadership of many dedicated community members, and the support of the 4M Blue Zones Project team, a task force has been assembled to strategically plan and implement a revitalization of Old Stadium Park. This task will not be simple, and it will require collaboration and hard work from people representing all sectors of the community, from our area residents and politicians to non-profit leaders and local businesspeople. Together, we will work towards our unified vision for a new Old Stadium Park that both honors its strong history and incorporates the needs of a healthy, age-friendly community. We will be back very soon to continue to make our public spaces clean and accessible for people of all ages.
Join the Well-Being Movement!
Email our team to learn more about partnering with us to make healthy choices easier at your worksite, school, grocery store, restaurant, or faith-based organization.
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Learn more at hawaii.bluezonesproject.com
