Press Announcement

Virgin Islands National Park
Contact: Russ Berry
340 776-6201 ext 241

The Virgin Islands National Park is awaiting funding to build an Environmental Heritage Center at one of two sites. The Center's goal is to provide the best possible setting and facility for the park to teach the importance of preserving and protecting the archeological, cultural, terrestrial and marine resources for this and future generations.

A park service team recently completed a design concept. Staff from the service's Denver and regional offices developed an ideal design. The design concept recognizes the unique context of St. John and the National Park setting by reflecting an open-air, natural campus setting. It includes indigenous building materials and will be constructed using ecological and sustainable practices.

The Environmental Heritage Center at the Virgin Islands National Park will provide an incredible educational opportunity for park visitors and local citizens of St. John to learn the importance of preserving and protecting the extraordinary natural environment and cultural heritage of the park.

The Center will include an orientation amphitheater, and four resource pods. There will be space under cover for up to 75 people who will be introduced to the park then move through the pods for more interactive experiences. Each pod will be specially designed to focus on marine or terrestrial ecology, pre-Columbian archeology or post-Columbian cultural history. Visitors and students will enjoy scheduled presentations and opportunities to learn about the park through intimate, hands-on activities.

Two sites resulted from a selection process conducted by the park service. Some of the criteria included proximity to resources and infrastructure, site adaptability, resource impact and user access. Site options are Cinnamon Bay near the existing amphitheater and Honeymoon Beach.

The Center will also provide an impetus to improve cooperation among park visitors, park partners and the local community in the protection and preservation of natural and cultural resources. An open public process will determine if the design concept is viable and which site is most appropriate for construction.

The project schedule starts by waiting to see if The Center appears on the President's budget in early January. Already this $3 million project is on the congressional appropriation list. If it appears in the budget the park will begin the public planning process In November of 2000 a congressional appropriation will confirm the funds for construction.

Federal money is for building construction only. Private contributions are needed to assure adequate display spaces and classroom amenities. The Friends of Virgin Islands National Park is sponsoring a fundraiser in December to start raising those funds. Private contributions in hand will positively influence the congressional hearings on appropriations.

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This page last modified 2/6/00