The challenges facing the Virgin Islands National Park fall into three categories, according to newly appointed superintendent John King: visitation, finances and partnership.
King, who was deputy regional director of the Park Service's Intermountain Region for nearly six years, was selected in October to head the V.I. National Park. He made his first trip to St. John last week, where he spoke to a meeting of Rotarians on Friday afternoon at the Westin Resort.
King noted that when President Ulysses S. Grant created the nation's and world's first national park, Yellowstone, more than 125 years ago, only a handful of fur traders and trappers had ever visited the area.
"Today," King noted, "well over 4 million visit Yellowstone yearly."
Visitation to national parks is expected to top 300 million this year, he said. "The huge number of visits impact on resources, capabilities, facilities and staff, " King said.
The very qualities that make parks special and draw people to them, such as solitude, serenity, and unspoiled nature, are being compromised by increased visitation, he said.
Closer to home, King noted that visits to the V.I. National Park have increased to one million yearly. "Our challenge," he said, "is to manage visitations in such a way as to protect the natural and cultural resources that have been entrusted to the Park Service as steward of public lands while simultaneously ensuring a quality and meaningful experience for visitors."
The development of a Commercial Services Plan and a Vessel Use Plan will help address these decisions about balancing visitor enjoyment and resource protection, King said.
Regarding the financial challenge, King said, "The Park Service has been asked to do more with less even though visitation is on the rise." As a result parks are suffering nationwide. In some parks, facilities have closed, seasons shortened, and maintenance and repair of historic buildings and monuments deferred. In short, he said, the Park Service has lacked the funds needed to respond effectively to overcrowding and overuse.
"Financially the Virgin Islands National Park has fared better than most," King said. "In fiscal year 2001, the V.I. National Park received a $1 million base increase. This increase represents the second single largest increase among parks nationwide. Only Independence National Historic Park, which received a $1.25 million increase, did better.
"Over the past two years the V.I. National Park received an annual operating increase of nearly $1.9 million, which represents nearly a 75 percent increase over previous budgets," King said, primarily because of the efforts of retired Superintendent Russ Berry. "Yet," King said, "this park is still living on a financially ragged edge."
King told Rotarians he plans to adopt a business plan for the park that will lay out needs and market those needs within and outside the park.
"To accomplish this challenge we must embark on partnerships," he said, reaching out to scientific, educational, philanthropic, contractual and local government sectors for assistance and expertise. According to King, "nationwide there are a huge network of volunteers, supporters, and constituency organizations involved in communicating a strong message to Congress and the Administration that people love national parks."
King cited the V.I. Friends of the National Park as one such group that has done a phenomenal job in attracting funds and resources to the St. John park.
"It is this kind of partnership that we need to sponsor and expand," King said.
In a question-and-answer session with Rotarians, King said he intends for the park to continue to be a good neighbor with the people of the Virgin Islands and include the residents of St. John in any development plans.
"I believe you have to plan with people, not for people," he said.
King said, "The Virgin Islands National Park is part of a magnificent landscape which is the National Park Service, and it is one of its crown jewels. And I am honored to be a part of this grand place."
King leaves the territory Monday and will return in the first week of December to assume his role as superintendent.
