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Big Island Park Management Activity <br /> June 15,2010 <br /> Page 3 <br /> Management Activity 2007-2010 <br /> Rather than continuing in a chronology, the following activities and issues are arranged by topic. <br /> A. Buildings and Other Facilities <br /> Buildin�s. The City initially intended to permanently retain the two main pavilions or <br /> park shelter buildings, the toilet building on the South hill, a couple of cabins as storage <br /> buildings, and the small entrance building by the docks. At the time of acquisition, there <br /> was some discussion regarding attempting to save the main dining hall that had fallen <br /> into severe disrepair; it was later determined that the cost of refurbishing it for public use <br /> was astronomical and it was a liability from a safety perspective, and eventually was <br /> demolished. <br /> By 2007 the basic facilities had been placed in serviceable condition, the north pavilion <br /> and its toilet facility were operational, the south toilet building had functional facilities, <br /> and the south pavilion was serving the Big Island Institute as a base of operation. Then <br /> the vandalism began. The toilet facilities in the north pavilion were ransacked in 2008, <br /> and the City made plans to `armor' that portion of the building by replacing the <br /> woodframe walls with concrete blocks and an impenetrable doorway system. Before that <br /> work could be commenced, the south toilet building was trashed. After many debates <br /> over the long-term feasibility of maintaining sanitary facilities at the Park, the City <br /> eventually determined that provision of permanent toilet facilities was no longer a <br /> possibility, and the potential for use of portable toilets was seen as an open invitation to <br /> vandalism and not worth the effort. The toilet facilities have since been removed, and the <br /> south toilet building has been demolished. <br /> The feasibility of maintaining the remaining buildings is a constant concern. The entry <br /> building near the docks has long since had its windows broken out, the pavilions are left <br /> open to discourage vandals. Over the winter of 2009-10 some of few the remaining <br /> picnic tables on the property were dragged out onto the lake by someone, where they <br /> became a hazard and had to be retrieved. Many other tables have disappeared over the <br /> years. <br /> An additional item of concern has been how to preserve historical man-made and <br /> architectural elements remaining on the property. The primary element is the promenade <br /> staircase near the docks, the original entryway to the Amusement Park constructed more <br /> than a century ago. The staircase is concrete and is deteriorating badly due in part to <br /> vandalism by vehicles as well as the ravages of time. Future discussions are expected to <br /> consider whether and how this should be restored. <br /> Grounds Maintenance. After the initial cleanup of the property which was ongoing into <br /> 2008, grounds maintenance has included minor clearing of brush encroaching the trails, <br /> removal of selected dead trees, and occasional mowing of the main promenade area that <br /> is not within the Conservation Easement. The City in 2009 hired a part-time Community <br />