Eight years after the creation of the Salt River National Historic Park and Ecological Reserve, the V.I. government has nominated individuals to occupy its seats on its advisory commission.
The Salt River National Park was established in the administration of former President George Bush. By law, it is to be co-managed by the federal National Park Service and the V.I. government.
The property consists of 312 acres of land adjacent to Salt River Bay and 600 acres of submerged, government-owned land. The V.I. government owns about 52 acres of the on-land property, including the five-acre Columbus Landing site, and the National Park Service owns 22.
Govs. Alexander Farrelly and Roy L. Schneider failed -– to the chagrin of National Park Service officials -– to appoint the territory's mandated four advisory board members. On Friday, Gov. Charles W. Turnbull finally named Planning and Natural Resources Commissioner Dean Plaskett, Senate president Vargrave Richards, assistant schools Supt. Terrence Joseph and St. Croix Assistant Tourism Commissioner Pamela Richards to the posts.
The Park Service has named three members — Maxwell McIntosh, Jessica Thompson and Roy Adams — and has yet to designate a fourth. In addition to the eight appointed members, the commission by law also includes the governor or a designee and the secretary of the Interior or a designee.
The commission is charged with overseeing park management plans, particularly regarding its natural and cultural resources. National Park Service officials have said there is a crucial need for stepped-up efforts to preserve the V.I. government’s five-acre Columbus Landing site. The area contain artifacts of the peoples predating Columbus and the ruins of an old French fort.
Meanwhile, the Park Service is in the process of acquiring land around the park. In April, it closed a $700,000 deal for 106 acres on the southwestern part of Salt River Bay, also known as the Ott property. In process is the purchase for $400,000 of a 76-acre parcel on the northeast side of Salt River Bay where the ruins of an old hotel lie.
Joel Tutein, V.I. National Park superintendent on St. Croix, has said that further acquisition is planned next year when Congress is expected to appropriate $1.5 million for more land purchases. Since 1992, he said. the No. 1 acquisition goal has been the Salt River Marina, which is owned by an Italian family.
