The Department of Planning and Natural Resources, through its Division of Territorial Parks and Protected Areas, invites the community to an interactive evening focused on the future of Virgin Islands parks.
The event, “Building a Connection to Our Parks and Protected Areas,” is scheduled for Tuesday, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Charles W. Turnbull Regional Library Auditorium.
Featuring renowned speaker and facilitator Parker McMullen Bushman, the session will spark conversations on park development, stewardship, and creating inclusive, meaningful connections to natural spaces. “ I am ecstatic for the community to meet Parker and participate. Their insights have deeply influenced how I navigate conservation spaces, and I hope this presentation opens the door for future collaboration. With this new year, we’re committed to offering more opportunities like this to the Virgin Islands,” Kristina “Kitty” Edwards, director of TPPA, said.
The forum represents a core philosophy for TPPA: building a park system for Virgin Islanders by listening to Virgin Islanders. “Fostering public connection is a strategic pillar for environmental planning and resilience. We are building V.I. Parks for V.I. people, so the community must be a part of the process,” said Kayla Budd, Research and Restoration coordinator for TPPA.
Edwards emphasized the cultural foundation of this work. “We want the community to love the places we are protecting and remember we are protecting them for us. Working in the historical and cultural context is deeply important. By bringing people together, we build trust and work to build something impactful for our people,” Edwards said.
A key discussion topic, “system diversification,” encompasses the types of protected areas, the activities they support, and the audiences they serve. “Conservation looks different to everyone. While the park system was created with conservation in mind, we want our spaces to be used by everyone. Kayla and I have pulled over to the same overlook to cry. Sometimes you just need a good overlook for that. Someone else may want to snorkel or wade in shallow water. The range of activities and accessibility is vital,” Edwards explained.
The event emerged from an opportunity to extend a private workshop with McMullen Bushman into a public gathering. “This event offers an invaluable opportunity to connect with the community and get guidance on how we can engage with each other more effectively, from both the TPPA side and the community side,” Budd said.
Looking ahead, TPPA plans to expand these conversations to a territorywide level. Funding will support biannual workshops, with this year’s on St. Thomas and the next planned for St. Croix in January 2027, plus cross-territorial opportunities throughout 2026.
For those interested in attending Tuesday’s workshop, registration can be completed here, and any questions can be directed to Edwards at kristina.edwards@dpnr.gov.
