Dear Source:
This letter is in response to the article in the Dec. 1, 2006 issue, "Roosevelt Park Construction Stalled Due to Funding Issues." We want to clarify key issues regarding the renovation of Roosevelt Park.
First, the departure of Driehaus Capital Management from the Virgin Islands has nothing to do with the renovation of Roosevelt Park. They are separate issues. A $500,000 grant for the park came from the generosity of the Stenning on Lake Geneva Conservancy Society, an organization funded by the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation to focus on issues of conservation and maintenance of open space.
Second, Mr. Driehaus remains personally committed to the successful completion of the park, and continues to maintain a home and strong personal ties to the Virgin Islands.
Third, delays in the renovation of Roosevelt Park have occurred for numerous reasons, including, the awarding of contracts, scheduling of work to avoid the hurricane season, and because extra time was needed to find additional donor funding for the landscape improvements and additional government funding had to be allocated for the community desired park upgrades. The Stenning on Lake Geneva Conservancy Society has generously committed an additional grant of $100,000 to underwrite the landscape improvements of the park. And, Mr. Driehaus has personally committed to provide a $20,000 gift for park enhancements.
Constructive solutions for the successful renovation of Roosevelt Park:
The Trust for Public Land (TPL), a non-profit park and natural land conservation organization, is the project manager for Phase One of the Roosevelt Park renovation and is strongly committed to this project. The Virgin Islands government will be responsible for completing Phase Two, which will include the brick paving and the playground.
To move this renovation process ahead, we are currently in talks with both Virgin Islands government officials and representatives of the Stenning on Lake Geneva Conservancy Society to secure the additional funds needed to complete Phase One of the project, and again with Virgin Islands government officials to ensure the completion of Phase Two of the park's renovation.
TPL has worked since 1999 to conserve natural lands on St. John, St. Croix and St. Thomas. Our work includes adding several properties to the Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve on St. Croix, as well as a three-acre site at Gibney Beach in Hawksnest Bay, a three-acre beachfront site at Maho Bay, and a 415-acre property known as Estate Maho Bay, all on St. John.
We welcome any questions or comments from you or any of your readers regarding the renovation of Roosevelt Park and TPL's role in it.
Beth White
Chicago, Ill.
John Garrison
St. Petersburg, Fla.
Editor's note: We welcome and encourage readers to keep the dialogue going by responding to Source commentary. Letters should be e-mailed with name and place of residence to source@viaccess.net.
