The project area includes the existing County-managed Kailua Park, and the former Old Kona Airport State Recreation Area, which was recently turned over to the County. Kailua Park (aka Old Airport Park/Maka'eo) is the County Department of Parks and Recreation’s largest and most heavily utilized park in the west Hawaii region. Existing facilities at Kailua Park (Old Airport/Maka'eo) include a gymnasium, 50 meter swimming pool, five multi-purpose ballfields, four lighted tennis courts, horseshoe pits, and four outdoor basketball courts, three of which were recently completed.  The park also includes administrative offices for the Department of Parks and Recreation staff.  Many of the ballfields were constructed through grassroots efforts using various sources of funds and in-kind contributions.

All Kailua Park/Old Airport Park/Maka'eo facilities are heavily used year-round by youth, adult and senior sports leagues and teams. Demand for facilities far exceeds capacity.

In 2008, the County took possession of the approximately 70 acre Old Kona Airport State Recreation Area located adjacent to Kailua Park. The current master planning effort was initiated in response to the acquisition of the old airport site, and the County’s desire to develop a comprehensive plan for its newly expanded, 117-acre Kailua Park/Old Airport Park/Maka'eo.

When the old Kona Airport closed in 1970, the State and County intended to convert the area into a multi-use recreational area. In subsequent years, there were at least three major attempts to plan the development of the area, but actual improvements to the area were minimal.

Unlike the County-managed park, the former State property is mostly undeveloped, with the old asphalt runway running the length of the site. Existing recreational facilities on the site include an in-line hockey rink, events pavilion, two partially constructed canoe hale (one of which is being used temporarily as a skatepark), and shoreline picnic pavilions. The old airport terminal building currently serves as both a county maintenance facility and as a storage area for canoes.

In 2002, a group of community volunteers known as Friends for Fitness began the development of a landscaped walking/jogging path along the mauka edge of the State park property. Financial and in-kind support were provided by a number of area businesses and private individuals. Today, the path continues to be improved and maintained by a cadre of community volunteers and private donors.

The Old Kona Airport area was the site of ancient and modern day Hawaiian settlements, and is known to be rich in cultural and historic resources. Human burials have been found in sandy areas of the shore, and reinterred on the site. Preservation and protection of these resources and cultural sensitivity will be important components in developing future plans for the area.