Greetings!

On January 18, the National Park Service (NPS) published Caneel Bay Redevelopment And Management Plan Newsletter outlining the options under consideration for Caneel Bay, announcing opportunities for discussion, and asking for written feedback by February 17, 2022.

As the philanthropic partner of Virgin Islands National Park, Friends recognizes it serves the public as both a vehicle and a voice to stand up for the preservation and protection of the natural and cultural resources found in Virgin Islands National Park and Coral Reef National Monument. As such, we are deeply vested in the future of Caneel Bay.

As the builder of Caneel Bay Resort and person responsible for the establishment of Virgin Islands National Park, Laurance Rockefeller felt the property, upon expiration of the Retained Use Estate (RUE), should be, “for the use and enjoyment by visitors to the park of the outstanding scenic and other features of national significance located both within the premises and in other areas of the park.” There are several potential options for the property on the table for consideration including new 21st Century visions Laurance Rockefeller had sense enough not to try and predict 40 years ago. Yet, it was Laurance Rockefeller himself who came to St. John to help found the Friends, like he did for so many other parks. For although he could not predict the future, he understood that long term constant vigilance is needed to help humans prioritize the preservation of natural and cultural resources over the powerful draw of development for economic gain alone.

This legacy of advocacy work on behalf of our Park is intuitive to the Friends and we will continue to advocate for the protection of the resources cradled in Caneel Bay on behalf of the people.

  • Friends advocates for science to drive the NPS decision-making with regard to the best approach to preserving natural and cultural resources of Virgin Islands National Park. Any solution needs to take into account, and plan for, long term pressures including the ability for the island to handle an increased number of visitors and related traffic, waste management etc.

  • Friends advocates for the process determining the future of Caneel Bay to be responsive to public feedback. These are public lands and the right to public and community access must be a part of any solution.

  • Upon the expiration of the RUE in September of 2023, we ask for NPS to take accountability for the preservation and protection of the Caneel Bay property, including the completion of the environmental assessments and determinations regarding the disposal of known hazardous waste on the premise. All solutions need to ultimately address the current environmental contamination of the property, include environmental concerns in the approach to any redevelopment and reconstruction, and long term allow for the National Park Service to monitor ongoing environmental impacts.
 
We encourage our members and the community at large to bear in mind these factors when evaluating the options on the table. It is critical that the community voices its opinion in writing to the Park every step of the way. This is the beginning of the formal EA process which collects public feedback to assess the potential environmental, social and economic impacts of alternative actions being pursued, which always includes a “no action” option. The actions presented are not definitive and potential future actions may present a combination of any of these actions.
 
Below is a summary of the options being presented in the NPS Newsletter. You are encouraged to read the full Newsletter and participate in the virtual town hall meeting ahead of submitting your comment online. Please act and make your voice heard!
 
In addition, we invite you to join the Friends Annual Meeting tomorrow for a review of the past year in the Park. Thanks to your support, the work of Friends is something to be proud of and stands us in excellent stead as we look to the future! 

Warmly,
Tonia Lovejoy
Executive Director
Friends Annual Meeting
Friday January 28
12PM to 1PM AST
Please join us for Friends of Virgin Islands National Park's Annual Meeting. This year-in-review look at the Friends is open to everyone and will be held virtually via zoom. Registered participants will receive zoom call information via email.

The Board of Directors will be swearing in new members, Dr. Paul Jobsis, Director of University of Virgin Islands Center for Marine & Environmental Studies, and St. John Administrator, Shikima Jones-Sprauve. Virgin Islands National Park Superintendent Nigel Fields will also be in attendance along with Deputy Superintendent Scott Simmons.
Our keynote speaker will be Dr. Paul Jobsis.
Caneel Bay Redevelopment Alternatives For Your Consideration
As outlined in the National Park Service published Caneel Bay Redevelopment And Management Plan Newsletter, the Park is requesting feedback on four options summarized in brief below. 
 
The goal of this process is to understand to what degree the community wants and how this property is integrated into the Park. Any solution could be any variation of these options so please feel free to suggest alternate solutions in your feedback to the Park.
 
Please Note -- The Hawksnest Beach referred to in this document is the beach on Hawksnest Bay that is part of Caneel and not the beach that is already open to the public.
 
ALTERNATIVE A balances enhanced public access, recreational opportunities, resource protection and park operational efficiency while re-establishing a world-class overnight experience at a luxury resort. Additionally, the concept calls for a mid-range overnight experience at Hawksnest Beach separate from the resort, and the NPS would provide space for an organization to design, fund, construct, and operate a community destination, such as an amphitheater, museum, or cultural center. In this Alternative, Honeymoon and Hawksnest Beaches would be available for public use including visitor services and a mid-range NPS overnight experience at Hawksnest Beach. Transportation and access improvements would be made to both beaches and an undeveloped natural zone with trails would include Turtle Point. Land would be set aside for an NPS interpretative zone and maintenance campus. The remainder of the area would be designated for a resort.

ALTERNATIVE B offers a similar management approach to Alternative A, except the resort area is expanded, a mid-range overnight experience and public access at Hawksnest Beach is removed and the NPS interpretative zone is limited. A public recreation zone would remain at Honeymoon Beach.

ALTERNATIVE C includes all resort zone elements identified in Alternative A, and the resort zone is similar to that of the historic boundaries of the Caneel Bay RUE. No visitor services would be provided at the site for non-resort guests, and the NPS would not provide a community space at the Caneel Bay area.

NO-ACTION ALTERNATIVE assumes sole management by the NPS upon expiration of the RUE in 2023. The NPS would not issue any permit, lease or concession contract. The NPS would minimally restore the site to allow for safe access by visitors through existing roads and trails, including safe access to beaches.
Public Comment Period, Feedback & Deadline
FEBRUARY 8, 2022 -- VIRTUAL PUBLIC MEETING
6PM to 7:30PM AST
FEBRUARY 17, 2022 -- PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD CLOSES
Comments must be submitted in writing

1. Submit comments electronically at: http://parkplanning.nps.gov/CaneelBayRedevelopment -- click on the 'comment now' button.

2. Mail or hand-deliver written comments to the National Park Visitor Center in Cruz Bay:
Caneel Bay Redevelopment and Management Plan Superintendent,
1300 Cruz Bay Creek,
St. John, VI 00830.