Vote NOW for a Castle Nugent National Park on the south shore!

The United States National Park Service (NPS) relies on public input for all of its plans and programs. Unfortunately, they are usually underwhelmed by the volume of participation of the citizenry. Now is the time to show them apathy is no longer in vogue. You can help! If 5,000... or better yet 50,000... why stop there, if 500,000 friends submit input to NPS on a new park, they will know we are serious!

The National Park Service is currently engaged in a Special Resource Study of the suitability and feasibility of a new park at Castle Nugent Farm (here is their project homepage) on the south shore of St. Croix in the US Virgin Islands. They are currently seeking public input regarding 4 possible alternatives for the site. We have until August 1, 2009, exactly one week, to make our wishes known.

YOU can be instrumental in the planning and scope of this new park, right now, in 2 easy steps:

1. Take a few minutes to submit feedback to the National Park Service regarding this study: NPS.GOV Public Comment page HERE!
2. Email friends, family, coworkers and others who support preservation of cultural, historical and natural resources to visit this website and/or submit their public comments using the above link!

ABOUT THE PROPOSED PARK:

Castle Nugent Farm and the surrounding lands contain remnants of former cotton, indigo, and cattle plantation estates in exceptional condition. Unlike other former plantations in the Virgin Islands that all focus on the Danish sugar plantation era, this estate still has viable cultural and historical resources dating back to the French colonial era and the Danish cotton plantation era. It is also one of the last working cattle ranches on St. Croix, and one of the ranches instrumental in the development and exportation of Senepol cattle throughout the Caribbean and the world. Other archeological resources date back to pre-Colombian occupation of the site.

Ecologically, the site includes wetlands vital to migrating and resident birds, one of the largest salt ponds in the territory, the most substantial stand of black mangroves in the Virgin Islands, and one of the largest and most healthy fringing reefs in the territory.

We urge you to support Alternative C, the most comprehensive of the alternative management plans being considered by the study team. This option covers the most diverse territory, and offers the widest range of resource protection, and interpretive and recreational opportunities. It would include an NPS administrative office on site, providing the best staffing coverage for the parks resources. Most importantly, it would provide a greater buffer from encroaching development that would otherwise erode the historical, cultural and natural resources of this site. All in one 2900 acre parcel.

The serenity of the south shore of St. Croix is one of the special aspects that set this island apart. Unspoiled rural vistas are quietly disappearing, as are cattle farms in the Caribbean. The view from the hillside and ridge above Castle Nugent remains largely as it did centuries ago. With your help, we can keep it that way.

Input is not restricted to St. Croix or Virgin Island residents, or even to US citizens. International tourists make up a healthy proportion of National Park visitors each year. Everybody is a stakeholder and is welcome to contribute feedback.

The park, of course, will not come into existence a week from now, that's just the time frame we have to submit final public commentary. In August, the study team will evaluate the input, complete their environmental assessment, then send the study, along with their preferred alternative management plan, to the director of the National Park Service, who will pass it on to the Secretary of the Interior, who will in turn submit it to congress. They hope to complete the process by December of this year.

Alternatives B and C - which to choose?

John Barrett, Study Team Leader for the Castle Nugent Special Resource Study at NPS responded to questions regarding Alternatives B and C and if a "stand-alone" unit would jeopardize the project. With his permission, I've included his response below. -- Michael

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You raise some valid concerns, but we do believe there are very real
advantages to the alternative C scenario and I do not believe presenting a stand-alone alternative would jeopardize the creation of a park. Congress will ultimately make the decision, but I don't see an alternative C scenario having that sort of negative impact.

Although it is hard to forecast something that is still a concept, a
stand-alone NPS unit at Castle Nugent Farms would presumably have several advantages over a unit that is administered from the existing parks. Among those--

1) Dedicated staff that focus their workday entirely on the operations
there and are not "shared" among the other units.

2) Greater chance for facilities that offer a wider range of services to
visitors on site since there would not be the directive/desire to share facilities with the other units.

3) Opportunity for Castle Nugent to stand out from the other units from a public relations perspective. This distinction might not be so important on the local level, but from a national perspective it could enhance the notoriety of a Castle Nugent park. Plus, it may compete better from a funding standpoint against the other 390 plus parks due to its status as a stand-alone unit.

That said, I think the chances for a stand-alone unit are pretty small
(just my opinion based on working a lot with legislation and policy). If there is movement towards the establishment of a park, the NPS and Congress would almost certainly look very closely at the existing NPS operations on St. Croix and would likely seek to combine operations and management.

Thanks again for your interest in our study for Castle Nugent.

John

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John Barrett
Planning & Compliance Division
National Park Service
Southeast Regional Office
404.507.5707
404.562.3257 fax
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So, bottom line is Alternative C could have advantages over B, but is not likely to be approved in full. However, support for Alt. C would not jeopardize the creation of the park unit and would send a message that the management plan that is most protective of resources is supported by the public. -- Michael