Friends Schedules Opening Of New Cruz Bay Playground
PRESS RELEASE St. John, US Virgin Islands, February 23, 2023 – Friends of Virgin Islands National Park is pleased to commemorate the opening of the Cruz Bay playground located adjacent to the National Park Visitor Center in Cruz Bay on Saturday, March 25th from 10am to 12pm. This celebratory event will be open to all and will include light refreshments, music, and performances by Moko Jumbies and the Dynamic Dancers.
“This opening is an opportunity to celebrate a project that has come about thanks to the contributions of a wide range of members of our community,” added Tonia Lovejoy, Executive Director of Friends. “It is a day to celebrate a collective passion to give our children a place to be just that, children!”
This stage of completion marks the end of the first phase of the project to rebuild the playground that was damaged in the 2017 hurricanes. Construction of the new playground was launched as a result of a generous donation from Dr. Steven and Jann Paul and supported by hundreds of other community members.
Friends of Virgin Islands National Park and its members will continue to support upgrades to the National Park Visitors Center site over the coming year, including a second phase of the playground project to include elements such as a mini-replica of the historic Customs House in Cruz Bay, as well as interpretative signage, additional mosaic work, and a native plant walk. The launch of the second phase of the playground project is possible thanks to the Andy Stillman Memorial Fund and a Governor’s Education Stabilization Grant awarded to Sports, Parks and Recreation by the Virgin Islands Legislature and confirmed by Governor Bryan in January 2023.
Following the opening of the playground, the Department of Sports, Parks and Recreation on St. John, will take over management and maintenance of the playground, along with the adjacent ball field, under a special use permit with the National Park Service.
More information can be found on the Friends website – www.friendsvinp.org/playground/
