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.