Multiple sources reported that Maui County officials, community members, and project partners gathered on July 30, 2026, to break ground on a new $2.4 million playground at the Lahaina Recreation Center. The project, which survived both the 2023 Maui wildfires and 2026 Kona low storms, marks a visible step forward in West Maui’s ongoing recovery.
- The new playground is located at the Lahaina Recreation Center, a nine-acre facility in the heart of Lahaina off Shaw Street.
- The $2.4 million project was shaped by community input and will feature the largest shaded area of any Maui County Department of Parks and Recreation park once completed.
- Mayor Richard Bissen, West Maui Councilmember Tamara Paltin, and County DPR Director Patrick McCall spoke at the ceremony, which included a site blessing before 12 dignitaries broke ground.
- The playground will include age-appropriate play equipment and seating for parents, grandparents, and guardians, in addition to the county-leading shade coverage.
- The project persisted through both the 2023 Maui wildfires and the 2026 Kona low storms before reaching this milestone.
Sources
- Maui County: Groundbreaking ceremony for Lahaina Rec Center playground highlights hope, renewal, resilience
- Maui County: Groundbreaking for Lahaina Recreation Center playground highlights hope, renewal, resilience
- Mauirecovers: News: Groundbreaking ceremony for Lahaina Recreation Center playground highlights hope, renewal, resilience
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