Earth Day at Lydgate

Today is Earth Day. And while I am sitting open house at a beautiful Lae Nani Condominium in Wailua
my wife Gwen is over at Lydgate Park just a half a mile down the road.

Earth Day is a worldwide opportunity to think globally and act locally by getting out and becoming involved in outdoor activities. Help the planet feel a little better locally in a fun way and make some new friends.

LYDGATE PARK IN WAILUA WITH A BEAUTIFUL ENCLOSED SWIMMING AREA

This year Earth Day is being celebrated with a volunteer workday at Lydgate Park in Wailua on Kaua‘i.  These events help keep the park clean and well-maintained for everyone’s enjoyment. The main task is applying a coat of non-toxic linseed oil wood sealer and doing maintenance carpentry on the playground. 

Although Lydgate Park seems exceptionally clean for such a heavily used park, there is always litter and debris on the beach to be collected. Valerie Sakai, tobacco control specialist with the Kaua‘i Eastside School Complex, will be organizing teens to sweep through the park, collecting cigarette butts.

“We’re hoping to see about 125 volunteers participating,” said John Lydgate, who is one of the park’s most devoted caretakers. John is my neighbor and John spends a lot of time caring for the park that carries his great grandfather's namesake.

The Friends (of Lydgate Park) was formed in 1993 to help coordinate maintenance at Kamalani playground, now a landmark on Kaua‘i. The organization went on to create a master plan for Lydgate Park that included walking and bicycling paths, sports fields, coastal access for fishing and overnight camping facilities. Now there are 2.5 miles of ADA-compliant walking paths completed, three full-size sports fields nearing completion, the fishing access is protected for perpetuity and only the overnight camping is yet to be completed. We sometimes go to full moon parties on the beach led by John and Charlotte Lydgate. Lydgate Park andKamalani Playground is probably the finest area, park and beach for keiki (kids) to play at on the entire island of Kauai. Next time you are here, if you have not already done so, check it out.