HANAPEPE, Kaua'i — The rich yellow blossoms and frosted green foliage of the 'ilima clamber amid the shoreline boulders, old concrete slabs and discarded mattresses at a 67-acre coastal peninsula where Kaua'i could see a new county regional park.

It is a windy place, and an undeveloped one, with a spiderweb of dirt and rock roadways through the brush and boulders. The idea of fixing it up, and making it a little less wild, appeals to many folks, particularly ones looking for safe recreational opportunities for kids.

"If it's safe and fun for the kids, that's a pretty good thing," said Dawne Perreira of Lawa'i, who was visiting a nearby beach yesterday.

The park would be just the second regional park on the island, and, according to parks administrator Mel Nishihara, could turn the region into a recreational mecca for the south and west sides of the island.

"I like that," said Mary Gallion of Hanapepe, who was fishing along the shoreline yesterday. "It could be a place for sports for the kids and for families to go to for the weekend."

The island's only existing regional park, at Wailua, includes space for picnics, beach activities, camping, foot trails, pavilions for community gatherings and playgrounds.

The new, proposed Salt Pond Regional Park may not follow the same template, however. The park would be adjacent to the Salt Pond Beach Park and a few hundred yards from the Hanapepe Stadium Complex with its neighborhood center, tennis courts, baseball, soccer and football facilities.

The county is arranging to lease the area directly south of the Port Allen Airport, formerly known as Burns Field, from the state Department of Transportation. Just how it will be developed has not yet been determined.

A decade ago, during an update of the county General Plan, area residents began talking about establishing a regional park on the peninsula on the west side of Hanapepe Bay.

"I am pleased that we are looking at fulfilling a dream of the west-side community to expand their recreational opportunities," Mayor Bryan Baptiste said.

There also has been agitation to close the small airfield there, but while the 65-year lease of the unused area to the county won't close the airport, it may ensure the facility won't be growing in that direction. State Transportation Director Rodney Haraga said that in any case, there are no plans for the airfield's expansion.

"We've got the land. It makes perfect sense for us to allow the county to use it for recreational purposes," Haraga said.

The lease still requires County Council approval. It would cost the county $25 a month.

For that, the county would pick up nearly a mile of rugged, rocky coastline, a slice of land 3,300 feet from east to west and more than 1,000 feet north to south. It is a place where families sometimes picnic on weekends, although it's often quite windy. Beachcombers walk the rock and coral boulders looking for treasures. Anglers park their cars and cast their lines out onto the reefs, and there is evidence that people camp there for short periods.

Nishihara said many of the activities people enjoy at the area now could be continued, including picnicking, camping and fishing. But there also is room for things like a soccer field.

"There are so many possibilities," he said.

Nishihara said one possibility is to link the existing county recreational facilities in the area to create a multi-use park along the lines of Kapi'olani Park or Ala Moana Park in Honolulu. But nothing is decided yet.

The mayor said the county plans to hold community meetings to get direction for what to do with the land. Whatever the plan is, he said he is committed to protecting the nearby ancient Hawaiian salt-making beds where families for generations have used the sun to convert brine to crystalline sea salt.

"There is great potential for expanding recreational opportunities in the Salt Pond and Port Allen Airport area, and when we start the planning process, we will definitely ask the community what kinds of activities they would like to have here," Baptiste said.

"We'll invite everyone to the table and discuss what our options are."

Reach Jan TenBruggencate at jant@honoluluadvertiser.com.